Calor del Amor

Calor del Amor

By

K. B. Forrest

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Calor del Amor Copyright © 2007 K. B. Forrest ISBN: 1-55410-803-9 Cover art by Eiris Key All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: http://www.extasybooks.com

To my dearest friend, Luna…

Chapter One abriel dropped his clothing to the floor of the cold bathroom. First his jeans. He looked at the bruises and touched one. It made him gasp with pain. He took off his shirt and saw the angry purple marks around his neck. They were just low enough so that they wouldn’t show if he kept his shirt buttoned. He balled his fists and imagined pummeling his father’s face. In his mind, he relished the sight of that fat nose erupting in a torrent of blood. Ever since his mom had died last year, he had become the new punching bag. Gabriel remembered the morning she died. No… it haunted his every day. Today was his eighteenth birthday, and this would end soon. But would it end? Last year, he declared that he was leaving home. His father’s response was to threaten to plant drugs in his room and have his big, dumb cop friends arrest him. He’d be thrown with all the thugs to be raped. Gabriel imagined his father jerking off to that. He just couldn’t figure out why his dad wanted him in the same house if he hated

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K. B. Forrest him so much. Gabriel thought that graduation from high school would change his life. He wanted go to college — one very far away, but somehow it didn’t happen. He had such a horrible year trying to recover from his mom’s death that he failed most of his classes. Now at age eighteen, he’d either have to repeat his senior year or … or what? Dad was going to make him stay at home for punishment. No … no way! He would find a parttime job and leave. He already had some money put away. Loud banging on the door interrupted his reverie. “Gabriel! Gabriel, what are you doing in there? Are you beating your meat again?” Dios mio, why does he have to yell loud enough for the neighbors to hear? Gabriel still felt comfort in using the Spanish his Puerto Rican mother had taught him, especially the cuss words his father didn’t understand. He wanted to rebel against his ass of a father for hating Hispanics, so he muttered Spanish words under his breath even when he knew his father would slap him across the mouth. “Gabriel! What are you doing; taking a dump? You don’t have dinner on the table yet! What the hell do you do all day? You lazy bum! What do you think this is, a flop house?” Gabriel hurried to throw his clothes on, but his 2

Calor del Amor hands shook. He was reaching for his briefs when a crash made him reel back. Jake pulled his fist back through the wreckage of the door, and through the hole, Gabriel saw him shaking it, his face a mask of rage. “I’ve been waiting for damn well over an hour now, you faggot bitch! What do you think you’re doing making me wait? Now look what you made me do!” Gabriel whimpered, but then felt the familiar rage. “I wasn’t in here for more than twenty minutes! Why…” His father, Jake, was laughing now. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you better cover up that gay-ass of yours. I don’t swing that way, so don’t even try!” Jake bellowed between guffaws and slapped his thigh. Tears sprang to Gabriel’s eyes. “I don’t care where I go, but I’m leaving! I don’t care if I have to live under a bridge!” The laughter stopped and Jake’s face turned reddish-purple. “You damn dog! Just like your whoring mother! You just try to leave! I’ll have you arrested and every homo fag at the station will be humping you! I warned you! You coward! Using your mother as an excuse to fail damn well every class you could fail! You’re being punished, and don’t you forget that!” His face was twisted with undisguised rage and 3

K. B. Forrest hatred. Gabriel thought he looked like the devils he conjured in his mind when his mother used to described hell. Sweat dripped from his father’s reddened face and saliva flew from his mouth as he spoke. “You’ve shamed my entire family! Everyone at the station knows you failed — they also know you’re a fag! How can I show my face around them after what you’ve done?” “How would they know I’m gay? Nobody but you and Tim …” Jake’s face scrunched in anger. “Don’t ever mention that name in this house again, unless you want me to kill your ass!” “You told them I’m gay?” “Word got out … don’t ask me, but just … just don’t say that out loud. I can’t handle the thought that you’d do that to me! I’m a cop. I’m supposed to be someone manly — someone kids look up to. Didn’t I raise you to be a man?” Gabriel remembered it — how his father had found out. Over a year ago — before his mom’s death, he finally confessed his love to the boy he had admired for years. Tim was straight, but he didn’t reject Gabriel. They became friends, but then his father found the Valentine’s Day card Gabriel had handmade for Tim. It was all over then and things went downhill. He got a terrible beating, and Tim was threatened. They never 4

Calor del Amor again talked after that. Gabriel unlatched the door and feigned concern. “Your hand! There’s blood, let me help…” “I’ll be fine. Just don’t make me do that again!” **** Gabriel went to his room and sat on his unmade bed. His room was littered with Japanese manga comics. He loved to read them and to watch anime. He could enter into another world, and forget his fucked-up life. He locked his bedroom door and reached under his mattress. He stashed his Yaoi under there. He had discovered this genre of manga recently. It was so sweet to read gay romances told without shame. He wished he could live in this make-believe world. That was it! He would become a Yaoi writer! The idea comforted him, but then the evil thoughts intruded again. Would he really do that to his own son? Would he go as far as to have me arrested? The answer was simple. Gabriel knew he would. **** “Hey Romeo, you left the laptop computer on all night again!” Jake called out as if Gabriel were far away. He was always volatile in the morning. 5

K. B. Forrest “Waste not, want not; remember? We’ll go under if you don’t stop these leaks.” Gabriel almost dropped the coffee as he hurried over. His heart beat frantically as he tried to remember if he closed down the programs. Last night he had been looking for jobs again. The web browser was open and Jake bent at the waist as he peered at it. He was frowning, but then he suddenly smiled. “I told you I’m okay with this job for now. I was just mad because they promoted that woman DiPalma to detective when it was supposed to be my job! Bitch wasn’t even qualified. Even though I have seniority, they claimed that because of her college degree in criminal justice, she was the better choice.” He frowned as he repeated the now familiar complaint. “I mean don’t get me started on that one. This damned affirmative action is really a form of prejudice against White men! I’m sick of it! Don’t waste your time trying to find me a new job. I was only threatening them. They need me; I’m the best man they have. Jeez … I thought you were looking at gay personals again.” He exhaled in relief. Jake thought he was searching for jobs for him! Gabriel wanted to finish school, but getting away from this hellhole was more important! But if I get a job in town, he’ll find me. He’ll find me and charge me with some 6

Calor del Amor invented crime — after all, he said they did that all the time. Gabriel once found drugs in his father’s stuff. He was sure his father took it from criminals and then sold it himself. “Maybe I should get a job to help out with the bills, Dad.” “You?” Jake chuckled and smirked. “Um … yeah, you keep saying we’re going under, so I just thought I could help out!” “No. You’ll just waste the money on your damn Jap comics anyway. I told you. You’re grounded for failing! You get out those books and study this summer. You stay in the house unless I tell you different, you hear?” “Yes, sir.” The buttons on Jake’s neatly pressed uniform gleamed as he placed his hat on Gabriel’s placemat and pulled out his chair noisily. Gabriel poured the coffee while the big man opened the paper and grunted. The eggs and bacon were still sizzling. Jake liked his breakfast hot and on time. Gabriel slid the plate in front of him. Jake took a bite, and then got up and opened the refrigerator. Gabriel cringed as Jake violently shoved aside bottles and dishes. “Where the hell is the ketchup?” His father always articulated in clipped words when he was in a rage. “I wish you’d remember to set it out!” “Just sit down; I’ll find it.” Gabriel rushed over, 7

K. B. Forrest but he resented having to act like the wife. It reminded him of how his mother had to scurry around after Jake, looking like a scared rabbit. “Yeah sure.” Jake shoved a casserole dish hard and another bowl holding the remains of a can of fruit cocktail tumbled out, hitting his knee and soiling his uniform. He bellowed like a mad bull and swung around with his fists poised in a fighter’s stance. Gabriel stared mutely for a second. “You … you …” Jake sputtered as his eyes reddened with rage. Gabriel stared at him. “What are you going to do, hit me again? ¡Jodete! Go fuck off, jerk!” He glared at his father, who looked incredulous at his rebellion. It almost didn’t register as the fist smashed into his solar plexus. He fell onto the kitchen floor, bringing a few dishes crashing down with him. His father was on him in a flash, handcuffing him to the oak table leg. He straddled Gabriel with his heavy body and fumbled for the stun gun on his service belt. He grabbed a kitchen towel off the table and stuffed it into Gabriel’s mouth as he struggled fiercely. Jake scooted down his body and aimed at his genitals. A muted scream came from Gabriel as the blue sparks arced toward him. His body convulsed and his eyes rolled back into his head as his body went limp. 8

Calor del Amor

**** When he woke up, Gabriel coughed up blood and struggled to move. He tried to move his hands, but they were tied over his head. The cuffs were gone, but twine bound him. Sharp pain washed over him. He vomited and lifted his head slightly. He was horrified to see what his father had done. Everything was red. Was he covered with blood? Twine was wrapped tightly around his dick and balls. The end of his dick was secured to a string around his waist. He felt something between his legs. He moved his hips painfully. He struggled to lift the table leg and slipped his hands out. Using his teeth, he untied himself, and finally freed his body from its indignation as tears of shame ran down his face. He sobbed spasmodically as he vomited more blood and liquid. He pulled out the ketchup bottle that was wedged up his ass, and realized that his father had smeared him with ketchup and then … He pulled up his jeans and went to his father’s room. He yanked open a drawer and hefted the revolver. It was loaded. His hands shook violently and he sobbed convulsively as he tried to aim it at his head. It would end now. His lonely life, avoiding people. Avoiding their eyes. Trying to blot out their pitying glances. Trying to hide the 9

K. B. Forrest bruises. He remembered the time his math teacher had taken him aside. “Why do you wear long sleeves in this heat?” “Um … I get cold easily.” “Gabriel — I’ve noticed the bruises you try to hide. You know, there is help for people like you.” The sympathy in her eyes bruised him even more than the painful welts. “Sure there is — my dad’s a cop. What should I do? Call the cops? Anyway, I never asked for help. I never asked you to feel sorry for me.” Now the cold metal in his hand invited him into the darkness. The darkness that had taken his mother. A banging on the door made him start violently. “Gabriel! Open up, or I’ll call an ambulance!” It was Mrs. Morgenstein, the older lady who lived below them. Gabriel gripped the trigger, but the woman’s voice had broken his trance. He put down the gun and opened the door. “Honey, look at you! Poor baby! I heard your crazy father this morning. You let me help you, or I’ll …” “What? You’ll call the cops? Maybe call my dad to finish me off?” “Honey, listen, I used to be married to a madman like your father. He was an insurance 10

Calor del Amor salesman though, not a cop. I know people think cops can be more dangerous, but I know better. Everybody thought he was the nicest guy, my husband, but let me tell you, that was only when we were in public. When it was just us, he used me to work out his aggression. See this scar?” She pointed to a line under her left eye. “I almost lost it … my eye, I mean; but maybe my mind too. I finally left the animal, but it wasn’t easy. I left with my two kids, you see. He would have killed us, but we changed our names and ran. Never did see him again. You have to do the same.” Gabriel felt tears stinging his eyes and finally his face crumpled and he began to sob again. “No, no, honey! Don’t give into it. Don’t think I haven’t heard him abusing you. I know he used to take it out on your mother too, but now he has only you, so you get twice the pain. Your poor mother! She was a dear. I used to tell her, ‘If it was me, I’d leave him. He’s a bully and a pig. Why does a pretty young thing like you stay with him? There’s a whole world out there. I mean it’s not like it’s the fifties or something!’ But she never could do it. She was so scared of him. Listen to me honey, you’re old enough, and you’ve got your own life to live. Leave now! Just get out of here. After you settle down somewhere, write to me. I’ll keep reminding you to finish school and go to college. Your mother would have wanted it. If you 11

K. B. Forrest need money, I have some put away …” Gabriel pulled away sobbing at the mention of his mother. “Listen, Gabriel, you leave now! I’m serious. If your mother had listened, she would be alive today.” Tears rimmed her eyes. “I can’t take it if something happens to you too. You’ll call me when you get somewhere, okay? You need money?” “No. Mom left me money. I’ll leave, but I’m scared. What if he finds me?” “Oh, baby, I know he’ll try, but staying here isn’t the answer. Call me, okay?” “Yeah, I’ll call.” He pushed the kindly woman out and looked back into the apartment he once called home. The answering machine was blinking. He pressed the button and Jake’s voice filled the room. “Hey kid, make sure the supper is on the table when I get home. I plan to go out bowling with the guys, and you’re coming. I’ll make a man of you yet!” Gabriel heard the suppressed laughter of men in the background. He missed his mom so much. He hadn’t been allowed to visit the relatives since the funeral last year, when he was so grieved that a doctor had been called to sedate him. He didn’t really remember it. He only remembered being dragged home and called a wuss for freaking out so badly. 12

Calor del Amor The phone rang again. He didn’t pick it up. On the floor, he saw Jake’s crumpled trousers and the dresser drawers open with clothing hanging from them. He left it all and showered again to get the filthy feel of his father off him, and pulled on his jeans and a t-shirt emblazoned with Japanese letters — the one his dad hated because he said the Japs caused WWII. In the bathroom, he peered at himself. He hated his blue eyes because they reminded him of his father, even though they were big and curious like his mother’s eyes used to be. His face was swollen from crying. It didn’t matter what he looked like. He no longer cared. He reached into the back of his closet and took out the money hidden there in an old sneaker. Over two thousand dollars now! It was his mother’s stash. Only Gabriel knew about it. She used to save it from the grocery money Jake gave her each week. Whenever there was a sale, she took advantage of it; and whenever she could save by cooking something herself, the remaining money always ended up in her shoe, but now it was Gabriel’s. She told him long ago that she was saving it for him, so that when he went to college he’d have some cash to spend. Gabriel bit his lip hard and then stuffed the money into his wallet, glancing around nervously. He strained to hear any sound. He ran back to his closet and looked into a paper sack in the back. He 13

K. B. Forrest had prepared for this for a long time, but he always chickened out. He took the box of hair color remover and mixed it quickly. He already had the instructions memorized. He spread it on his hair and tossed a large, ratty duffle bag on the bed. Soon the duffle bag was full, so he packed a backpack with some of his personal items. Finally, he yanked up his mattress and retrieved his Yaoi manga. He couldn’t take all of his books, but he would never leave these behind for his father to find. It had been an hour. He stepped into the shower and washed out the pungent stuff. His hair felt like abused cloth and looked like a long mop of orange troll hair. He quickly mixed and applied the blonde hair dye. He had picked a strawberry blonde that was the color of Tim’s hair. It was like torture to wait for it to take, but it was important to disguise himself. He briefly thought of cutting his long hair, but decided against it. Conditioner helped, and soon he was looking at his new, blonde self. He realized then how stupid he’d been. His black eyebrows and lashes made him look like a freak, but it was all he could do. He had to leave soon! His heart lurched as he looked over all he had to leave, especially his mom’s things. Taking one last look at the room, he walked through the apartment as if saying goodbye to everything that 14

Calor del Amor was so familiar. It had been his mother’s house, and the crocheted armchair covers — the one’s he watched her make, made him sob again. His eyes fell upon the laptop computer, and before he had time to think of it, he unplugged it and shoved it into its bag. He locked the apartment door and walked down the flight of steps. Mrs. Morgenstein was waiting with her door ajar. She sprang up like a jack-in-the-box, with her white toy poodle at her heels. She giggled and yanked the bill of his cap. “You go, kid! Show the rotten bastard!” Finally, he began to trudge toward the bus stop. He would ask the driver how to get to the … the what? The airport? The Amtrak? He hadn’t thought. New York. His mother’s hometown. That was it. And if he took the train, it would be less likely that Jake could find out where he’d gone. Gabriel looked straight ahead, hoping he wouldn’t see anyone he knew, especially not the police. The bags were heavy, but he soon reached the bus stop and plopped down on the bench under the shelter. His stomach was churning with anxiety, and he was desperate for the bus to arrive. It seemed as though Jake could jump out any time and drag him back, but after a short wait, he got onto the bus and put in his coins. “I need to get to the Amtrak station.” The driver ripped off a transfer ticket and 15

K. B. Forrest handed it to him as he jerked the bus to a stop. “It’s the other side, kid.” Gabriel reddened and left the bus. I’ll make it. But his gut clenched with fear. He’d never been alone like this, and he still felt like a scared kid. Jake had never allowed him to take a school trip, or to visit a friend. He really didn’t know much at all! Now he was free, but he was scared. The weight of his computer was a comfort though. It represented his new life — his life as an author!

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Calor del Amor

Chapter Two

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abriel approached the Amtrak clerk and tried to force himself to look nonchalant. “What flights … um … what trains do you have going to New York?” “Where in New York? New York City, upstate New York, what?” Gabriel fumbled with his wallet. He just remembered that he stuffed the money in without separating a reasonable amount. “Um … New York City.” His hands worked to pull out some bills as he held his wallet below the counter. “Name?” Gabriel felt a surge of panic. Why hadn’t he thought of this? “Sean Jacobson.” He used an old friend’s name. For a moment, he considered using his mother’s maiden name, Palacios, but that would have made it too easy for Jake. The clerk looked up at him sharply, as if alert to his panic. Gabriel realized with a start that the false name he invented contained in it the name Jacob. It seemed 17

K. B. Forrest like bad luck that Jake had insinuated himself even into his lie! He quickly thought of a false address and hoped they didn’t require IDs. He never purchased a ticket before. The choice to take a train had been wise, he thought with a small measure of relief after the clerk finished without requiring his identification. He took a ticket for the next train to New York City and found a seat in the terminal. He never wanted to see Cleveland, Ohio again. After glancing around nervously, Gabriel picked up a discarded newspaper. What if Jake comes home early? What if he shows up now? What will he do to me? Despite his fear, hunger gnawed at his belly. He hadn’t eaten all day, and that always gave him a bad headache. He shifted and looked around. Maybe he could get something. A man sat down next to him. Gabriel was annoyed. The room wasn’t crowded and there was no reason for the guy to sit right next to him. “College break, eh?” “No, I … um … I’m just visiting relatives.” “That’s nice. Taking the New York City train?” “Yes.” This man was getting on Gabriel’s nerves. He wished he could move his seat. “Great. Me too. I teach at Columbia University, you know. I was here to give a lecture on the linguistic origin of a word that appears in the Apocryphal texts … gee, I can see I’ve lost you 18

Calor del Amor already. Say, you look like you could use a bite to eat.” He was looking directly into Gabriel’s eyes. Gabriel looked away. “No, I’m just fine, thank you.” But the man wasn’t done. He had receding brown hair that was almost kinky, and an inquisitive look rather like that of an unpleasant rabbit. “Oh, where are my manners? I’m Professor Bernie Russell, and very pleased to meet you.” He chuckled with his nasal voice at his own joke. Gabriel took the hand he offered for a quick shake. It was clammy. “Gabriel … Sean …” “Hey, forget your name? You look too young for that! I have an aunt in Queens who calls me from time to time to ask me who she is. So, Gabriel Sean, they have fairly good bagels at that stand. I’ll get us some and maybe coffee.” When Gabriel didn’t answer, he looked annoyed. “Thank you!” He pretended to speak for Gabriel. He got up, smiled at Gabriel, and pushed his battered attaché case closer to his legs. “Watch this for me.” Where could he hide to escape this nut? He was no longer hungry. It will be a long trip to New York. Shortly Bernie returned with the food and set a bagel on Gabriel’s lap. “I thought you’d like onion. I asked for extra cream cheese. Well jeez, you could say thanks!” 19

K. B. Forrest “Thank you, but I really …” “Don’t mention it; I’m a gentleman; what can I say?” Gabriel felt sick with anxiety and he didn’t want to have to fight off this damn shit-fuck. The coffee was weak and warm and the bagel nauseated him. After making a show of eating some, he stood and dumped it all in the trash. “Waste not, want not.” Bernie chided him as he discarded the food. Gabriel froze as he remembered Jake using the same corny expression that very morning. He swallowed hard and looked away, but the man continued a non-stop chatter that was driving him crazy. At last, it was time to board the train. Bernie tried to help him with his bags, but Gabriel wrestled them back. “Oh, I see, want to act all butch!” Gabriel allowed his large duffle bag to be stowed, and with Bernie following closely, he entered the train. “There are a couple of seats together!” Bernie brayed as he tried to direct Gabriel by clutching at his elbow. Gabriel saw an aisle seat next to a very elderly lady and he slid in beside her. Bernie looked surprised, but then his face took on an annoyed look. “I see. I see.” Bernie moved on, but Gabriel felt 20

Calor del Amor hot eyes on him. Already made an enemy. The old lady ignored Gabriel, and he was relieved, but his hands were still trembling. His head hurt badly, but Gabriel wanted to start on his career right away. He opened his computer and tried to think of a title for his new Yaoi novel. He thought that a college setting would be exciting; after all, he had dreamed of what college would be like. Let’s see, two guys go to … Harvard. Right! Mom wanted me to go to Harvard, but I’m too dumb. … One guy is Japanese and one is Puerto Rican. Mmm … there has to be a conflict. Yeah, murder or something. But they fall in love. That’s it! I’ll call it ‘Seeing Crimson,’ because crimson is Harvard’s color, and it is close to “seeing red,” like when someone is really mad! He began to write, and was surprised that the story began to weave itself in his mind. He had a great start, but after a few hours, Gabriel fell into an exhausted sleep. With his computer still on the tray before him, his face went slack. **** Gabriel woke with a start as something banged into the back of his head. A heavy briefcase dangled to one side of him. “Oh, pardon me!” Bernie continued walking by. “Maybe you shouldn’t have chosen the aisle seat. I still have room near me.” He leered at Gabriel over his shoulder as he adjusted his briefcase, 21

K. B. Forrest which must have contained a heavy computer. Gabriel jerked as he remembered the computer on his tray. His story was the most precious thing he owned now. He already had to worry about what his dad would do when he got home, and now, to make things worse, he was being harassed by this nerdy fucklenutter. What would he do when he got to New York? He wanted to forget all of that, so he began to type again. “You should report him,” the old lady said confidentially. “I tell you, he’s doing it on purpose. I saw him swing his bag toward you.” Gabriel panicked. No. Can’t risk making a scene. “It’s nothing. Just an accident, I think.” “No! That was no accident. You want I should call an attendant?” “No, we’re almost there.” “Yeah, another twenty minutes. God, the city always looks like hell. Look at the smog. I’d report the bastard anyway, if I was you. You never know; New York has become the land of fruits and nuts. When I was a girl, there was culture here. People came to see the culture. Now every corner is full of bums and crazies who think the world will end tomorrow. And the thing is that nobody gives a damn. If it was me, I’d throw them all in jail. Which reminds me, that man, you should report him.” 22

Calor del Amor Gabriel turned and saw that Bernie was still staring. He continued writing and his worries disappeared. He started from the beginning and read to himself. Prologue … The dry brown oak leaves could be crumbled easily. The boy uncurled his hand and let the particles drift to the ground. He picked up some of the pliant crimson and gold maple leaves in one hand for a moment, and then set them down on the short concrete wall of the schoolyard. He was waiting for the Potato Chip Man. He wanted to start with a scene from a character’s childhood. It would be traumatic — something that might affect him later. Maybe bullying by other students. Gabriel knew well how that felt … but maybe a crazy parent like Jake. Maybe that was too close. He wrote on, deciding to use a bullying scene first: “What’ll you have?” a woman’s impatient voice asked. He jumped, startled at the sound, and then he looked up to see the clerk standing there with a small white bag and a scoop in her hand. “I … I’m just looking,” he said meekly. “Half a pound of liquorices,” a lady behind him called. The boy was relieved and he continued to stare at the bright Halloween candy. It wasn’t so much that he was hungry for it; he just loved holidays, and the candy made him think of fields of pumpkins and bright moons 23

K. B. Forrest over hushed country fields. Suddenly he saw a small white bag being shoved in his face. It was the clerk. “Here, kid,” she said. He took the bag and smiled widely. “Thank you very much,” he recited as his mother had taught him. The nice woman had put six little candies into the bag — one of each of the shapes he’d been eying with such desire. He walked out of the store clutching the small bag. The street seemed clear now. He didn’t see the boys who had promised to beat him up after school. He turned and began to walk toward his mom’s apartment. He smiled as he took in the changing leaves. Where they were piled high, he walked through them, churning crimson, gold, and brown together. He looked into the bag again — one of every shape! He looked up with a broad smile on his thin face. A jack-o-lantern grinned back at him from a doorstep. **** From behind him, the arm came down around his neck suddenly and the bag was snatched from his hand. The red-faced bully jabbed his knee into the boy’s back and the other boy in front of him gut-punched him so that he fell to his knees. From behind came a hard kick and the boy assumed the fetal position for the second time that day. A hand grabbed his hair and tried to pull him up, but he clenched his eyes shut and kept his head down. A kick to his head made him see stars on a 24

Calor del Amor crimson backdrop. He heard the laughter dying down as he finally sat alone on the pavement, his legs now bent under him. The two boys were some distance down the street, having forgotten him as they stuffed the candy into their mouths. Gabriel liked that he was able to use the word ‘crimson’ several times. It was going to be a great story. The only part that bothered him was that he wasn’t sure how to write a sex scene, whenever he would get to that part. He’d never even kissed anyone, what to speak of have sex! Maybe he had to research the subject. He was excited as page after page appeared on the computer. He would be a great writer! When the train arrived at Grand Central Station, it was already quite dark. Gabriel retrieved his bag and followed the crowds as they dodged panhandlers and hucksters of every sort. The place stank of dirty bodies and rancid food. He had already forgotten about Bernie; there was no time for that flaming asshole. It was drizzling when he stepped outside. People were hailing taxis all around him and he attempted to imitate them, but nobody stopped for him. I should have worn something better! Maybe I look like a punk. Soon the crowd dwindled and he was afraid he would never get a taxi. He had luggage, it was dark, and he had no ideas. He 25

K. B. Forrest waved vigorously at a taxi and it began to pull over. Gabriel sighed deeply, but he was shoved aside by a man. He turned to him. “You snooze, you lose!” Bernie taunted Gabriel as he got into the taxi. Twenty minutes later, another taxi stopped in front of him. “Ya want a taxi, or what?” He hurried toward it and allowed the driver to place his duffle bag in the trunk. “Where to?” “Do you know a good place to stay?” “What? The Waldorf, the Ritz, what?” The cabbie asked in his impatient New York accent. Gabriel tried to contain his tears. The man was silent for a moment. “What? You new in town?” “Yes. I didn’t make reservations anywhere. I’m sorry.” “Well you don’t have to be sorry to me. It ain’t easy to get to the city and then try to find a hotel. What price range? I’ll try to find you something, but you aren’t running away from home or something, are you? Are you underage? You look like a damn kid!” “No! I’m eighteen! I’m looking for work here. I just finished high school, so I’m no kid. I want to find an apartment soon. I’ll be staying in New York.” 26

Calor del Amor The taxi driver considered for a while. “Well, maybe you’re eighteen, but you’re still a damn kid as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, my mother-inlaw has an apartment for rent on the Eastside. It ain’t great, but it’s fairly safe. I mean nothing is safe anymore in New York; anyone can get mugged or murdered here, I don’t care if you’re richer than the Rockefellers.” “That sounds great!” Gabriel was happy that his problem had been solved so easily. “Please take me there.” “Yeah, but you know she’s asking a thousand a month, and a deposit. You got that?” “I can handle it,” Gabriel assured him as they entered the traffic and the driver began to curse a pedestrian. “Uh … you know, another thing is that the mother-in-law, you know, she hates guys your age. You throw a party or play loud music and she’ll haul your ass into the street before you know what hit you, hear?” “Yes, sir.” “Hey, kid, you know that guy in the taxi behind us?” Gabriel looked back, and there he was, that crazy pervert from the Amtrak — Professor Bernie Russell! “They’ve been following us since we left the station, kid. Just thought you’d like to know.” 27

K. B. Forrest Gabriel gulped and sank down in his seat. **** Detective Alejandro Cardoza watched the cab pull up to the old brownstone. The driver opened the trunk and pulled out a bag. The passenger side opened, and the light of the streetlamps illuminated the features of the kid who stepped out, one sneaker untied. He looked anxious, but that did nothing to detract from his looks. The big eyes looked around as if frightened. His fine nose and lips made Cardoza want to arrest him on the spot and drag him off. The boy’s blonde hair sparkled in the light, but when he turned, Cardoza was surprised to see the long dark lashes that curled away from his lovely eyes. Thank you, God! Thank you for making me a man and allowing me to set eyes on your perfect creation! This boring surveillance might prove to be quite exciting! Cardoza adjusted his slacks to accommodate the bulge that sprang up at the sight of the kid. He hoped that the boy was older than he looked, for Cardoza would never consider pursuing an underage man. He’d find out soon enough, but the wait would be torture. He watched the two disappear into the building and he sighed.

28

Calor del Amor

Chapter Three

"L

et’s get up there and see if we can get that old whale out of bed.” The cabbie turned and headed toward an old brownstone that had several Black teenagers loitering in front of it. He pushed a button and waited. He shook his head and pushed the button again several times. Finally, he leaned into it until they heard a woman scream. “Alright already! What do you want fahcrissake?” “Hey, Ma, it’s me, Jimmy! I got you a new tenant. Why don’t you open up and let us in?” “Jimmy, are you out of your mind? It’s the middle of the night.” “Just let us in please?” The door unlocked and Jimmy pushed it open. He headed toward a staircase. “She likes to live on the second floor because she doesn’t want to get robbed. She doesn’t like the third floor either because if this place catches fire, she’d be a goner.” Gabriel’s eyes grew wide. He could think of 29

K. B. Forrest nothing to say. Dark, cheap paneling lined the walls; in many places, it was rippled from moisture. The floor was covered with oatmeal colored linoleum and seemed to have an odd stickiness that caught at his shoes as he walked. The door at the end of the hall opened and an overweight woman in pink foam rollers and a printed nightgown stood there. Her face was like a bulldog’s and the fierce expression she was wearing didn’t help her looks. “Jimmy, I swear to God, sometimes I don’t know why my daughter married you. This had better be good.” She yawned hugely without covering her mouth and wiped her eyes like someone who’d just come out of a deep sleep. “Come on, invite us in already.” “Do me a favor, Jimmy, drop dead!” “Hey, have a cigarette; you’re in a bad mood. I want you to meet Gabriel ... what did you say your last name was?” For a terrifying moment, Gabriel’s mind went blank. “Palacios.” “Well, Gabriel, this is my mother-in-law, Dottie, she’ll be your landlady.” “Like hell, I will be!” Dottie lit a cigarette. “Please, Ma, come on!” “You drag me out of bed and hit me with this and what do you expect me to say? Even at a hotel you have to make a reservation!” 30

Calor del Amor “I’m family fahcrissake!” “He’s not!” Dottie flicked ashes in Gabriel’s general direction. “He looks like any kind of criminal.” “Good Lord! Hey, Gabriel, wait here for a second while I go talk to Ma.” Jimmy walked past Dottie and she closed the door behind them after giving Gabriel a suspicious glare. Gabriel stared at the dark brown door feeling small and lost. The walls were thin and Gabriel could hear everything. “Are you crazy?” Dottie didn’t even wait for the door to slam shut. “You said you needed another tenant, and he’ll be okay. He looks like a good kid.” “You don’t even know him, he could be a murderer or a rapist; you never know these days. You want to come and find me dead?” “Aw, Ma, how could you say that? Can’t you tell he’s a good Italian boy? Ya gotta help him out, Ma, he’s like a lost puppy fahcrissake.” Gabriel heard Dottie curse under her breath. “Alright, let him in and let’s see what kind of money I can get out of him.” Jimmy opened the door, and Gabriel tried not to look like he’d been listening anxiously the entire time. “Come on in; she says she’s got a place for 31

K. B. Forrest you.” “Will you be quiet for a second, Jimmy? Hey, Gabriel, you want a smoke?” Gabriel smiled nervously and shook his head. “Good, you’d probably end up setting this place on fire before long anyway. Look, I’m not going to play any games with you. No parties, no bringing women over, no music or other noises, and I want a five hundred dollar deposit and a thousand dollars per month. If you can handle that, you have an apartment.” Gabriel’s eyes shifted nervously. “That’s too high! Ma, cut him some slack, he’s not going to wreck your place!” “I charge everyone a thousand dollars; if he can’t pay, too bad.” “I can pay.” Dottie looked from Gabriel to Jimmy and narrowed her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. And if he wrecks the apartment, you’re going to pay, Jimmy, got it?” “Alright already, I got it.” Jimmy looked at Gabriel. “Hey kid, don’t make me regret this. You wreck the apartment and I’ll find you and break your neck, got it?” “Yes, sir.” Dottie led them down the stairs to the first floor. She unlocked the flimsy door with a rattle of keys and the door swung open with a creak. 32

Calor del Amor “Look, I gotta run; the boss will be mad enough as it is.” Before Gabriel could thank him for his kindness, he walked out. The outer door closed and Gabriel could hear his taxi start up and drive off. Dottie took a drag on her cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke as Gabriel looked around his new home. The walls were eggshell white with many stains where old pictures or furniture had been pushed against the walls. The floors were the same as the hall except for a ratty carpet in the living room. Off the living room was a small bedroom with a window that looked out onto a brick wall. You could practically touch the other building. He walked back through the living room and explored the small bathroom and the kitchenette. There was a rickety card table and three mismatched chairs set up as a makeshift dining area. “This place ain’t the Ritz, but let me tell you it used to be decent around here before all the trash moved in. Now-a-days I couldn’t sell this place if I wanted to. Hey, honey, here are your keys.” Dottie gave him two keys and Gabriel carefully counted out the deposit and the first month’s rent. “I gotta get some sleep, hon. You take it easy, okay?” Dottie trundled back up the stairs. Gabriel’s money was almost gone now, so he 33

K. B. Forrest had to find work soon. The specter of his father showing up chilled him. He never wanted to see that asshole again. He was exhausted, yet he wanted to spend just a little more time writing his new book. After all, he was now an author. He pulled out the computer and began to think about characters. He wanted them to come to life. He was up to the part where the Puerto Rican guy, Turi, gets to Harvard. He had just had his own cab experience, so he was ready to write. Turi looked out at the bleak cityscape and wondered how cities had become so gray. It had been years since he’d been up north — he hadn’t even visited his mom in New York, where she still lived in the same government housing projects he fled as a teen. The cabbie was still talking. “The damned ‘Big Dig!’ It finally ended, but now it’s falling apart! Some woman was killed the other day. I’m telling ya, the mob gets payoffs and the Italian contractors get to keep their big fucking jobs forever. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m Irish, but my brotherin-law’s Italian. I don’t mind the greasy wops, it’s just that …” Turi wasn’t listening. The taxi finally pulled up at Harvard Square. “That’ll be thirty-five dollars.” “What? That’s an awful lot!” Turi silently calculated how much money he’d be left with. The man just stared at him and Turi handed him the money and turned to walk off. 34

Calor del Amor “Cheap bastard. Where’s the tip?” Gabriel became absorbed in his writing. It wasn’t until his sore legs were screaming that he noticed that he only had a few hours left before the sun rose. He set some clothes on the floor for a bed, and using his duffle as a pillow; he closed his eyes and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

35

K. B. Forrest

Chapter Four

G

abriel awoke to the sounds of the street. Cars honked and people yelled, producing a cacophony of unpleasant sounds. He had slept on the bare floor, and now he was cold and sore. He looked around. Several roaches scurried for cover in the kitchenette when they felt his eyes on them. He had to get the paper and start looking for a job right away, but he looked at his computer and his fingers itched to get back to his story. Gabriel approached the bathroom. He imagined roaches crawling everywhere, so he shoved the door open so that it slammed against the wall, and then waited. Maybe the roaches would run away and hide. After a while he entered and showered, using the old rubber hose with a showerhead on it that was clamped onto the faucet. He set his old clothes on the floor and stepped on them so as to avoid the filth. After dressing, Gabriel locked the apartment and set out. He found a newspaper stand and got 36

Calor del Amor a copy of the New York Daily News. The employment section seemed to have several possibilities. “Move along, mister. You can read it somewhere else.” Gabriel wondered how the blind newspaper vendor knew he was still there. Gabriel descended the stairs to the subway and despite the stink of the place; the smell of fresh donuts wafted up to make him ravenous. He hadn’t eaten for over twenty-four hours. He read the ads over coffee and a donut, and then decided to hit the places on his list after figuring out their order in the train routes. The first two stops only resulted in filling out application forms. The third job turned out to be a place where he was expected to have accounting skills. He didn’t. Gabriel applied for seven jobs, but none of them resulted in a request for an interview. He was running out of time. It was four P.M. and he was exhausted. He decided to try at least one more. **** Detective Alejandro Cardoza was no longer bored, but he had blue-balls. After going home that night, he could think of nothing but the gorgeous young man he had seen. He never believed in love at first sight … could this really be? The coffee tasted like 37

K. B. Forrest warm piss this morning. He had no appetite, and his balls were sore as hell from thinking about the kid. He had such a gorgeous, sprite-like body and face. Cardoza shifted and cursed his dick for besting him. He had tried to relieve his swollen friend several times, but the thing refused. It wanted that young piece of ass or nothing! He had it so bad that he considered following the kid when he left the apartment that morning, but he knew he had to do his job, no matter what his friend down there was demanding. He couldn’t wait for too long though, the thing was threatening to walk off by itself and claim the prize. Damn it! **** It would be his last stop for the day. The place was near the Bowery in an old storefront that should have been demolished by now. Gabriel was sure he had the wrong place as he rang the doorbell. It didn’t seem like a business, but the door buzzed and he stepped through. To the left he saw the sign. It read, “East West Trading Horizons.” He hoped it wasn’t a trap of some sort. It had happened before in New York. Someone advertises, offering a job and when the right person shows up, the killer strikes. Gabriel shivered and wished he didn’t have such a well38

Calor del Amor developed imagination. “Are you the one who called about the job,” a bubblegum cracking girl with frizzy blonde hair asked. “Yes; I hope I’m not too late.” A small, older man walked out of the back office and extended his hand. “Hello, I am Ara Sassounian. Have a seat. Mandy, please get our guest some coffee and cookies, will you?” The girl stopped filing her nails and left. “Reginald, our delivery boy and odd-job man, has found another job. Today is his last day and we really were desperate to find a replacement. So can you drive?” “Yes, sir.” Gabriel hurried to assure him. “So what is your work experience?” “I … I just finished high school, so I never had a real job — just summer work.” The man held up his hand. “No bother. I am an Armenian and this is a small import-export business. Quite often I get students to help.” He smiled. “I can’t pay much above the minimum, though.” “I will take the job if you want to hire me.” “Good, good. You don’t look Irish, or Italian, or anything I can guess at. I think maybe German?” Mr. Sassounian peered at him. “No. I’m Puerto Rican, but I was born here.” “Well that is good, but you have blue eyes. Ne? 39

K. B. Forrest Yes? You must have big family here, eh?” Gabriel froze. “Yes, they all live in the Bronx.” “Okay. Then tomorrow you can fill out the papers. It will be your first day here. I will pay cash at the end of each week, in case it is better for you.” Gabriel stood and shook his outstretched hand. Mandy came in just then with the cookies and coffee. Mr. Sassounian grabbed a napkin and wrapped two large cookies in it, and handed it to Gabriel. “These are good Armenian cookies. Once you taste them, no cookie will ever taste the same.” Gabriel took them gratefully and left. Life is good. He remembered holding the gun to his head and he shivered. Mr. Sassounian was right; the cookies were delicious, but then again, he was starved. It was late, but not too late to shop. Gabriel thought about what he could buy. Now that he had a job and his rent was paid for a month, he could consider his needs. At a furniture store near his apartment, he ordered a cheap bed and mattress. He also bought a little television set, because it occurred to him that he could go crazy in that apartment without some distraction. He bought the minimum of food, a cooking pot, and lots of roach spray. Soon the furniture delivery came and as he looked it over, he realized that he had forgotten the bedding. He looked out 40

Calor del Amor at the well-lit streets and decided that he still had time to find a store that sold sheets before he had to go to bed. The other thing that niggled at his mind was Mrs. Morgenstein. He had promised to call her, and he might hear too, if his father had done anything. He left with a pocketful of change and began to search for a phone. He saw one two blocks away, and he stood with trembling fingers as he dialed her number. “Mrs. Morgenstein, it’s me, Gabriel.” “Oh my! I am so happy you called! Are you okay? Did you find a place to stay?” “I did — right away! And I have a job too!” Gabriel felt lighter now. “You are so smart! Just like your mother!” “Um … Mrs. Morgenstein … my dad, has he freaked out yet?” There was a short pause. “You better believe it! I’ll tell you everything. I listened and even went up the steps to hear some of it, especially after the police arrived.” “He … he called the police?” Gabriel felt his knees weaken. “No, I did. He went crazy. First of all, it sounded like he was tearing everything up. I heard a lot of glass breaking. Then he was yelling for you and slamming things around. I’m sorry, Gabriel, but I was scared. I called the cops and that nice lady detective, the one your father hates, 41

K. B. Forrest DiPalma, she came.” The woman paused breathlessly. “She says to him, ‘Open up, Connerly, you’ve been making a too much of a ruckus. You’re scaring your neighbors.’ This was when I crept up the steps. She says to him when he opened the door, ‘Wow, what’s going on?’ He says, ‘You listen up and you listen good. If you ever come anywhere near my house again you’re going to get a piece of this!’ I suppose he was pointing to, you know, his penis, because she says to him, ‘You’re gross, Connerly. Get a hold of yourself. I mean get a hold of your wits! Looks like you’ve got a pretty good grip on the part that makes most of your decisions.’ So he says, ‘No one insults me and gets away with it, you bitch!’ Imagine, Gabriel, he called her a bitch to her face! So she says, ‘Cut the macho crap. I came by to save you the embarrassment of having some rookies show up and catch you with your pants down. But it looks like my charity was misplaced. Next time, I’ll let them haul you in. In fact, I should take you in right now for assault.’ So he says to her, ‘You just come here and try it!’ 42

Calor del Amor So she says, ‘You wish, Connerly. I’m going to be decent and let you go with a warning. But if you keep making a fuss, I’ll call in backup and drag your ass to the lockup!’ So I started to creep back to my apartment, when I heard something like a sob coming from your crazy father, and he yells to her, ‘Stop! Wait, I got to say something. Uh, listen, I’m sorry, but when I tell you this, you’ll understand why I’m like this. I’m under too much stress. I’m a cop. I’ve spent my life fighting crime, but now everything I believe in is upside-down. My kid … he’s really done it this time. I wanted to cover for him. Hell, I wanted to break the law and lie, but you know I can’t do that.’ I was scared when I heard this, because I knew what he was up to. So he says, ‘I’m turning him in. I suspect he’s been doing this for a while, but now I have proof. He’s been selling drugs.’ Gabriel … are you there still?” Gabriel was holding onto the ledge that held a tattered phonebook, as his breaths came in ragged gasps. “He … he did that?” “I’m so sorry, Gabriel. I had to tell you. Just keep a low profile and stay away from cops. I’m telling you, Detective DiPalma didn’t sound like she bought his story, but who knows. You okay, baby?” “I’m fine. He always threatened me like that. 43

K. B. Forrest He said that he could get me thrown in jail; that’s why I didn’t leave last year.” “Look, Gabriel, if anything like that happens, I’ll tell them what he did, and nobody is going to listen to that crazy man!” “Okay. I better go now, I’m calling from a phone booth, and some guy is waiting outside. Bye, I’ll call soon.” “Don’t worry Gabriel! Make a life for yourself!” He hung up the phone and decided to finish his shopping. Maybe his knees would stop shaking soon.

44

Calor del Amor

Chapter Five

I

t was past nine o’clock, but luckily, many of the stores stayed open late. Gabriel purchased a set of sheets from John’s Bargain Basement and headed home. He approached his apartment with his head down, trying to find his key. When he glanced up, he saw that the door was ajar. He ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time, then knocked at Dottie’s door. “It’s me, Gabriel! There’s someone in my apartment! Do you have a gun or something?” The dark brown door flew open and Dottie appeared with her round face creased in shock and rage. “What did you say, boy?” Gabriel already regretted involving her. “There’s someone in my apartment; the door was open when I came home. What should I do?” “Oh fahcrissake! Not again! Wait here kid!” Dottie disappeared into her apartment and came out a moment later carrying a heavy wooden 45

K. B. Forrest baseball bat. “Let’s go check it out.” She hiked up her printed nightgown in one of her fists as they walked down the creaky stairs. Gabriel tried to take the bat from her, but Dottie pushed him aside and approached the door cautiously, pushing it open with the end of the baseball bat. The room was dark, but with the light that filtered in from the hallway, the devastation was obvious. “Oh shit!” Gabriel started to rush into the apartment, but Dottie put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “If there’s anyone in there, you’d better get out quick!” She knocked the baseball bat against the door for emphasis. Nothing happened, and after a moment, they cautiously entered. Dottie turned on the light and Gabriel moaned. The bed had been viciously slashed and the new television’s screen was smashed. His clothes were strewn about the room and many had been stepped on and kicked around. Suddenly Gabriel remembered his laptop computer, and nothing else seemed important. He rushed to the place where he had put the bag last night, but it was gone. It was gone with his precious Yaoi story … with his new career! The big woman looked determined. “Call the police! Oh crap, that’s right, you don’t have a phone. Don’t worry, I’ll go upstairs and call them. 46

Calor del Amor You try to figure out exactly what’s missing, okay kid?” Jake. “No, no it’s okay, don’t call the police, please, I’ll be fine.” “Have you lost your mind? What do you mean, ‘don’t call the police;’ you’ve been robbed!” “Yes, but what can they do about that? It’s just more paperwork for them. Please don’t call!” Dottie gave him a disgusted look. “Listen, son, this is my apartment building. When my apartment building gets robbed, I call the police.” She walked out and Gabriel started to tremble. What if Dad has been asking around about me here? What am I going to say if they start asking questions? Jake must have friends in New York still; he’s going to find me if I have to talk to the police. He’s probably already contacted them, so they’ll be on the lookout for me. What have I done? Gabriel could hear Dottie on the phone talking to the police. She hung up and came back downstairs. “They say they’ll be here soon, but that’s what they always say. You should consider yourself lucky that you didn’t walk in on the robbers. You could have been murdered, you never know these days. You know, my cousin had a friend who was murdered; no one’s safe these days.” Gabriel sat down on the torn mattress. What am I going to do? 47

K. B. Forrest

Chapter Six

D

etective Alejandro Cardoza took another sip of the lukewarm coffee and grimaced. In many ways, this case was just the kind that excited him. It was thought provoking and complex, but there were also innocent people — real people to help. For him, it wasn’t just the thrill of solving the crime; it was the satisfaction of knowing he’d served his fellow man. He loved to see the look on their faces when justice gave the victims some measure of relief. That’s why his father always accused him of being too idealistic. “Mi hijo,” he’d say, “we weren’t always rich. All these acres of sugarcane — your grandfathers fought for them.” At this point he’d make a sweeping motion as if Alejandro’s eyes would be forced to take it all in. Alejandro could just see him settling back into his leather chair looking pensive. In Puerto Rico, this many acres of sugarcane could make a man a fortune, but it was the drug business, which really made their family rich. No, 48

Calor del Amor not illegal drugs. His father had sold land to American pharmaceutical companies in the fifties, and as part of the deal, he had stock options that had made them truly wealthy. “You think I got for you a Harvard education so that you can waste it being a dirty pig cop in New York City?” His father’s voice would rise in volume, but Alejandro remained firm. Of course, now he was a rich detective in New York City at age twenty-five. That always made things easier. Other cops envied him, and he reveled in seeing his comrade’s faces when he gunned the engine of his Ferrari. Yeah, he knew he was playing bad boy, but he did that very well. A snappy dresser, he was handsome in a way that made women crazy, yet many of them told him that his eyes held something cold. It didn’t matter. He knew he was gay. He just wondered if he would ever find a man he could really love. Alejandro smiled and looked back at the building. Maybe he finally found that man. Being a detective had its perks. He worked independently most of the time, and that’s how he liked it. He was a solitary man, but he also had another side to him. He loved his job because it involved people — his people quite often. He spoke their language and knew their concerns. It seemed that most cops really didn’t care about the 49

K. B. Forrest people they contacted as they did their jobs. After seeing the horrors that made up the life of a cop, many became hardened and even joked about victims. Although he rarely showed this side to others, Cardoza was a compassionate man, who really felt for the victims. He remained stony-faced while working last year on the case of the murdered Latina girl. She was only six. Later he wept openly with the parents, and they thanked him for being like part of the family. He went after the killer like a bulldog, and it had been gratifying to solve that case. That’s why he loved his work. His father might never understand, but somehow Alejandro thought he did. The problem with this new case was that the Feds might have to be called in if it turned out to be what they suspected. Alejandro narrowed his eyes. That bastard Kelly had blown it on this one. Kelly thought they were rivals, but that wasn’t the case as Alejandro saw it. Richard Kelly was a moron, and Alejandro refused to compete with the likes of him. He overheard Kelly a few times making racist jokes at his expense, but it was obvious that Kelly, with his community college degree and lowlife upbringing, was jealous of Cardoza. He had seen Kelly eying his Ferrari and shaking his head. Once he heard Kelly say, “The only way a Spic can own a car like that is by 50

Calor del Amor selling dope.” Another time, he found a CD hung on his rearview mirror — it had to be Kelly’s work. Poor Hispanics, especially immigrants, liked to hang CDs in their cars because they were shiny and pretty. Cardoza didn’t mind the idea of it, but he resented the fact that Kelly was sending him a message. He was ridiculing his ancestry. Besides, he’d hung a rotten free AOL installation CD, instead of one with good music on it! Cardoza chuckled at the thought, but still, he would kill Kelly if the guy ever dared to disfigure that car. Kelly had made detective after taking Spanish classes at the local community college. These days, a detective had to be fluent in Spanish to be able to serve the growing Hispanic community, but this infuriated many of the White cops who felt that this requirement favored Hispanics. It was a farce though — Kelly’s Spanish sounded ridiculous. Cardoza couldn’t believe Kelly had been promoted, and now his poor Spanish may have blown this case. Last Monday a pregnant teenaged Hispanic had shown up at the station and asked to speak with a detective. Cardoza could have been called in; after all, she knew almost no English, but instead Kelly got the case. The only good thing was that a fluent policewoman had taken her initial statement 51

K. B. Forrest before assigning her to Detective Kelly. As far as they could understand, the girl claimed that she was a Nicaraguan citizen, and she was begging to go home. That was a strange twist. She said that a lovely Hispanic woman and her young lover had been recruiting pregnant girls to come to the US. They were promised good jobs, a Green Card, and free housing in exchange for their babies. The lady cajoled them, pointing out that they were young, so they could have many other babies. Giving up one didn’t seem too bad to them. They were assured that their babies would be adopted into rich families and that they would live enchanted American lives. The girl said that she wanted her baby to live a good life, unlike her own poverty stricken one. But now she was afraid. After a few months of living in isolation, she was homesick and asked to go home. That was when the trouble began. They would not allow her to leave unless she came up with her own transportation money. They also demanded a refund of the money they’d spent on her. That virtually made her an indentured servant. Besides, she decided that she wanted to keep her baby. She was very near the end of pregnancy when she finally managed to slip out and go to the police. She wanted them to return her to Nicaragua, even if it meant deportation. This was the end of the policewoman’s notes. The rest were 52

Calor del Amor Detective Kelly’s notes, and these were almost incoherent. Why was he sitting here instead of Kelly? That was the tragic part. Detective Kelly had allowed the girl to leave after interviewing her. How could he be so stupid? There were safe houses where such cases could find shelter and protection, but the idiot had dismissed her, and now she was dead. She’d been found sans fetus, floating off a pier. Detective Kelly was forced to hand over the case to Cardoza, but he doubted that Kelly felt guilty about the girl’s murder. If the interpreter’s notes were accurate, it was somewhere in one of these brownstone buildings that the girl said she was kept. She said that she and other girls were moved from one apartment to another on a regular basis, and more importantly, that the beautiful Hispanic woman who she claimed was the head of this operation, lived in one of the apartments with that young stud of hers. Detective Cardoza thought about the woman. He’d have to think of a good name for her, as he always did for unknown perps. It helped him to make the criminals seem like real people. He mulled this over for a while and decided to call her la Gata Negra, the Black Cat, because she was such a source of bad luck for the girls who’d been taken in by her. It was getting late and he’d seen nothing all 53

K. B. Forrest day. He was thinking of calling it quits, when he turned his radio up and heard a call to investigate a robbery not two houses from where he was parked. He figured it was only decent for him to take the call and check it out, but then he remembered the kid he’d seen the night before. It was that very address. Cardoza stepped out of his car and walked briskly to the building, where a heavy woman with pink foam curlers in her hair was already standing in her faded bathrobe. “Who are you?” Cardoza showed his badge and she eyed him with suspicion. “No way! You look like one of those rich Eurobrats; those aren’t cop clothes, you think I can’t tell? Besides, there’s no way anyone would have gotten here so soon. Cops these days go for a donut and coffee and then play pool before going on a job. Ya think they’d give a shit, but no. One time my sister thought she heard …” “Ma’am, I’m here to investigate the call about a robbery.” The woman seemed to sense his gravity and turned to walk in. “See — there ya go! They broke my lock and robbed this poor kid. He’s all upset, see?” The woman pointed into the apartment where the young man stood amidst the wreckage. Cardoza stared at him until he looked away. Up 54

Calor del Amor close, the guy was better looking than Cardoza had imagined. The kid backed away a step as if to allow him to see the room. He was slender, yet athletic, and when he parted his lips slightly, Cardoza was riveted by their beauty. His large, luminous eyes looked frightened, yet he seemed to be gathering his courage. Cardoza realized that he was almost in a trance when the fat lady began her loud complaining again. “I had a good lock installed, but he forgot to lock the deadbolt when he went out. I know I’m not liable. I’ve got insurance on this place, but it only covers my losses! Too bad the ditzy kid forgot to lock his door!” “I know things like this happen in the city. I know there’s nothing you can do officer,” the young man cut in. “See, that’s what he says now!” Cardoza put up his hand. “Who called this in?” “I did,” the fat lady said, raising her hand like a school kid. “I’m the landlady, Dorothy Manichino. I thought to myself, even though he refused to call it in, I had to. My insurance won’t cover it otherwise. Besides, I don’t see why he doesn’t want to report it. At first he was upset about his computer, and then suddenly he says he doesn’t care.” The landlady glared at the young man, who looked away. 55

K. B. Forrest “Do you have any idea who could have done this?” “No fahcrissake! Do ya think I’d call ya if I did?” The landlady answered for the young man as she spread her arms in exasperation. “Ma’am, please wait outside for a moment.” Cardoza gave the landlady one of his cold looks. “I’m Detective Alejandro Cardoza. I’ll ask a few preliminary questions before we move on to what happened here.” He took out a leather bound notebook and snapped it open. “Your full name?” The kid’s mouth quivered. “Um … Gabriel Palacios.” The hesitation in his voice touched off a silent warning in Cardoza’s head. He was used to dealing with this sort. He suddenly slapped a hand on the wall and glowered down at the scared kid, who was now trapped between his arm and the wall. “Age?” “I’m twenty … uh … twenty-one.” “Okay, let’s see your ID.” “Um … I think they stole it. They took everything.” “So, you left your wallet when you went out?” “Well, yeah, I didn’t need it … I was only …” Cardoza bent closer so that their noses were almost touching. He wanted so badly to kiss those lips, but he had to play the mean cop. “You have 56

Calor del Amor any proof of your age? You’re not a runaway?” “I’m eighteen, okay? I’m no runaway. Do I look like a kid or something? I’m about to go to college; damn …” “So, you are eighteen, twenty, or twenty-one. You have to decide on your lie before you open your mouth. You say you’ve only been here for a day? Where did you live before?” “Um … I moved here from O … um … California.” “Did you fly?” “Yes, I arrived yesterday.” “What airport, and what was the flight number,” Cardoza asked in a monotone. It was really getting to him. This guy was so beautiful that he was being taken in by him. He wanted to force himself to believe his lies. It was like listening to the Sirens of the Odyssey — he found he couldn’t resist. He didn’t move from his intimidating position, although he could see the kid’s hands trembling. He had to move soon, or he would give away his embarrassing arousal. “You know, I’m starting to think that I’m on trial here!” Cardoza took a better look at him. The anger in his blue eyes lit them up. “Listen, this is procedure. I have to ask.” He was shocked when the kid began to blubber. The mattress had been cut into strips with a 57

K. B. Forrest sharp object and clothes had been torn and strewn around the room. The TV had a shattered screen and it seemed that nothing in the sparse apartment had been spared. As Cardoza looked at the young man, he noticed a note taped to the headboard. It read, “I have a long memory for what you done.” Cardoza had the impulse to sit near the young man and hold his shaking shoulders, but he was still hearing the alarm in his head. “What does this note mean?” The kid appeared to be shocked. “I don’t know,” he said, looking up with a tear-streaked face. “I didn’t see it before.” “So are you sure you’re new in town? I can see that this was no robbery. Whoever did this was out for revenge. Do you have any idea of who could want to do this to you?” “But my computer — it was a laptop and it was stolen. I have to get it back … um, I guess I really don’t need it so badly, Detective Cardoza.” The way the kid said his name made him giddy for a moment. “What did your computer have on it that was so important?” “Nothing really, just my résumé. I can make it up again.” “So can you think of anybody from California who would do this to you?” “I told you; I think this was just some random 58

Calor del Amor crime — some kids out for fun; that’s all. You’ll never catch them anyway, so …” “Please leave that to me. We have to investigate any crime that is committed.” “But I don’t want you to do that! I just don’t want the bother!” Cardoza looked up from his pad where he’d been staring to distract himself from the kid’s looks. This is the problem with guys like this. He was being reeled in like a fish. “The crime has been reported and now we have to follow up. Besides, your landlady wants the report for her insurance.” Something had been bothering him as soon as he’d seen this young man. His mind began to put together the pieces. Here was a young guy who’d been targeted by someone who was very angry with him. It could be an ex-boyfriend, if he was gay, but it could also be a business deal — maybe somebody angry with him because he’d sold a baby. Maybe this Gabriel kid was involved with la Gata Negra, and they weren’t coming through with their promises of money and jobs; or maybe he was forcing unwilling girls to give up their babies. Sure, he looked young and innocent, but maybe that was part of the trap. His mind was reeling. He was here looking for a young Hispanic woman and her young mate, and this one had a laptop with possibly valuable 59

K. B. Forrest information on it. Was the information concerning business? Why was he so against contacting the police, and why was he, at the same time, so upset about his loss? He knew Gabriel, if that was his real name, was lying about almost everything he said too. Maybe that computer held information about the pregnant girls and their babies. Maybe it had on it the names of parents willing to buy a baby on the black market. It was obvious that he wanted to keep this break-in a secret, because that’s what the landlady implied. Perhaps he just stumbled onto la Gata Negra’s boyfriend! She must be cold, that bitch, if she could do the things she was accused of doing, and this young man might even be the one who carried out her orders. Could this kid have killed that poor girl? If this young man was, in fact, the boyfriend of la Gata Negra, he could see how, with his innocent looks and sincere face, he could lure girls into giving up their babies for money. Cardoza still couldn’t picture it, because despite his internal alarm screaming warnings, something in him wanted to trust the boy and to help him as if he was the victim. He wanted to take him into his arms and protect him. He wanted to ask him why he seemed so afraid. He wanted to feel his soft skin against his lips. He forced himself to focus on the problem again. 60

Calor del Amor “That’s not your real hair color, is it? I mean it’s pretty obvious what with your dark eyebrows and eyelashes.” Cardoza leaned in again, causing the boy to squirm. “That has nothing to do with this case.” “Did your girlfriend’s clients do this?” “Girlfriend? I … I don’t have a girlfriend!” “Oh … very likely story. So someone like you has no girlfriend?” “No! I’m not even … well, I mean …” “Oh, so you’re gay?” Cardoza tipped the kid’s chin up with one hand. “Shut up! I hate cops! So what if I’m gay? It’s not illegal in New York or something, is it?” Alejandro Cardoza’s head swam for a moment. “No, sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. But I know you’re lying about a lot of what you said, got it?” “Yes, sir, but I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m eighteen years old and I just got into town. I … I didn’t do anything bad.” Cardoza stared at the note again — what did it mean? He could imagine that it was probable that one of the exploited girls’ relatives had found la Gata Negra out. There was a clear threat implied in the note, and it had been written in bad English. The author must have been illiterate or foreign. The door was pushed open and the landlady stepped in again. 61

K. B. Forrest Cardoza scowled at her, but said nothing. To the young man he said, “So you say your name is Gabriel Palacios. What’s your nationality?” “He’s Italian, fahcrissake; can’t you tell?” the landlady said, butting into the conversation again. “He’s a good Italian boy!” So he told the landlady that he’s Italian. Another lie, and a stupid one at that. Palacios is not an Italian name! He looked at the young man and smirked. He knew the effect it had on people, especially liars. “Mr. Palacios, I’ll be in touch with you soon. I may have more questions. Will you be here?” “What about my police report for the insurance company? They won’t pay up without it!” the landlady brayed. Cardoza glowered at her. “You can pick it up in a couple of days, or wait for it to arrive in the mail.” The landlady seemed dissatisfied. “If ya’d do your job instead of shopping for snazzy clothes, maybe the criminals would be in jail by now!” Cardoza looked at the young man and saw a slight smile on his face. Maybe he was guilty after all. Now that he had his first lead, a thrill ran through him. It was always exciting to get his teeth into a case. It didn’t hurt that it involved a mysterious, gay man either, although he wished 62

Calor del Amor he was one of the good guys. “Buenas Noches, Señor Palacios.” He saw Gabriel wince, and was satisfied. To the landlady he said, “That means ‘good night’ in Italian.” “Go to Hell!” The fat lady waved a hand in dismissal. **** Gabriel slumped onto the ruined bed as soon as he got Dottie out. How could his luck take such a turn? Earlier he thought he was on top of the world, and now his life was worse than ever. His story was gone, and now he didn’t even have a computer. How could he write his novel and become a famous Yaoi author? Even if he could remember all he had written, instead of continuing, he would have to start from scratch. His biggest fear, though, was that the police had been alerted. After what Mrs. Morgenstein had said, it had been an awful mistake to panic, and let Dottie know about the break in, but she would have seen the broken lock anyway. He had given his mother’s maiden name, but they could still track him down — Jake could track him down. Gabriel realized after all he had heard from his father, that cops had their own little club, which admitted no one but other cops. Even wives and children were excluded. If a cop needed help, 63

K. B. Forrest Jake had often told him, he could count on fellow cops. If Jake called on his friends in New York, he’d soon know where to find him. Maybe he had already called. This handsome detective had eyed him with suspicion the entire time he questioned him. It was a shame that such perfectly chiseled features had to belong to a dirty cop who would give him over to his father. Likely, they had already issued a fake warrant for his arrest. He regretted not having searched his father’s place for drugs, but he probably had some stashed in other places anyway. Now, Gabriel was sure, his father would finally do as he so often threatened. Soon Gabriel would be in prison, never having had the chance to live his own life. His dreams of being an author would be smashed. Detective Cardoza’s voice was deep and mellow, but frightening. He replayed it in his mind, but the questions he asked frightened Gabriel, and although Cardoza was incredibly handsome, he seemed as cold as a beautiful Greek statue carved in marble. There’s no way a man like that could have a heart. Gabriel was surprised that he could have feelings for that monster of a cop, but he couldn’t deny the animal attraction he felt. Gabriel looked out into the street from his grimy window. Even this late at night, it was well lit. In a drab car across from him, he spotted the man! It was that crazy Bernie guy. He seemed to 64

Calor del Amor be looking straight at him and smiling. Gabriel pulled away from the window, his heart and mind racing. Could this man be connected somehow to his father?

65

K. B. Forrest

Chapter Seven

G

abriel awoke with a start. His eyes flew to the door, but it was just as he left it, with the chair propped against the doorknob. He had spent an uneasy night waking in fits and starts whenever he heard the slightest sound. At least the mattress wasn’t that uncomfortable after he flipped it over. But it was still lumpy enough to make him ache. His mind turned to Detective Cardoza almost at once. Fear made him hasten to get moving; he wanted to forget about him, but his cold eyes haunted Gabriel. He was a formidable adversary. Gabriel quickly bathed with the hose-shower and tried to calm himself down. Detective Cardoza was out there “investigating” him — probably getting ready to press charges. He wondered if he should try to go back home and beg his father not to send him to jail, but if he had already turned him in, there was no way to stop what would happen. Gabriel sorted through the disorderly pile of 66

Calor del Amor clothing until he picked out a t-shirt and jeans. He was going to be a delivery boy, after all. As he closed the door behind him, he heard Dottie call from upstairs. “Hey Gabriel, that you? Look, don’t worry about the door; the locksmith will be here in a half hour, okay hon?” “Okay, thank you Dottie.” “No problem, see you later.” Dottie closed her door before Gabriel could reply. Gabriel wondered how mad Dottie was, but there was no time to think. He couldn’t remember how long it took him to get to Mr. Sassounian’s place, and he hoped he had given himself enough time. The last thing he needed was to be late on his first day of work. **** Detective Cardoza followed Gabriel down into the train station. His t-shirt was decorated with some kind of Chinese letters and he wore jeans. Gabriel’s high ponytail and fine features made people turn when he walked by. Cardoza saw him hesitate by the doughnut vendors, but he moved on quickly and boarded the train. Cardoza slipped into the same car and took a seat. He opened a newspaper in case he glanced his way, but he soon found that the kid 67

K. B. Forrest kept his eyes fixed on his lap. Cardoza kept cautioning himself. He knew it was dangerous to fall in love with a suspect. This young man was rare, though. He was handsome in a way that Cardoza thought could only be described as pretty, yet he was definitely all-man. How was he to keep staring at him all day without become enthralled? Damn it, I won’t fall for his cunning tricks. But he’s good, I’ll give him that. Just look at him sitting there as if he were just an innocent, scared kid. Cardoza’s mind wandered back to their encounter last night. Gabriel was lying to him, but he was so crafty with his big blue eyes and his crocodile tears. If he wasn’t the best detective on the force, the kid would have taken him in easily. He knew he had to harden his heart to the kid. Those poor girls suffered because of him and his lady friend, if indeed he were the prep, and if he had to take him down, he would. Cardoza lowered the newspaper and glared at Gabriel with narrowed eyes. **** It felt like ages, but the train finally reached his stop. Gabriel got off the subway and made his way up onto the crowded street. He rummaged around in his pocket for the directions to Mr. 68

Calor del Amor Sassounian’s place. He felt his panic rise when he couldn’t find them. He glanced at his watch. Fifteen minutes left, don’t panic, that’s enough time. “On your right,” someone called out. Gabriel froze confused, and a cyclist swerved around him at an amazing speed. “Watch it, asshole!” The bicyclist snarled and sped up again. Gabriel looked around at the tall buildings and wondered what to do. He started walking down a street that he vaguely remembered from yesterday. He passed a pawnshop and a liquor store, but as he progressed, things started to look more and more unfamiliar. He hesitated and looked around. No, I have to go back! This is the wrong direction! He turned quickly and headed back to the train station. This time he walked in the opposite direction, but after a short time, he realized it was even more unfamiliar. He glanced at his watch again. He should be arriving in two minutes. Gabriel slowed down when he reached a café with a few people sitting around the outside tables. There were two men behind the counter; both seemed to be in a great hurry. “What’ll it be?” the man snapped when he approached the counter. “Excuse me sir, I’m lost. Can you tell me where Canal Street is?” The man sighed. “Okay, you go to the train 69

K. B. Forrest station; you take a right and keep going past the first intersection. Then you take a left.” “Thank you so much, sir.” “Hey, don’t mention it.” Gabriel started to jog back in the direction he’d come. This time he kept going. When he reached the intersection, he saw a bead shop on a corner that he remembered from last time. He looked at his watch; he’d only be about fifteen minutes late. His cheeks were flushed and damp with sweat by the time he pulled open Mr. Sassounian’s door. “Come in, come in, Gabriel.” He appeared to have been waiting for him. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?” “No, I mean, I’m sorry I’m late. I got lost because I forgot to take the directions.” “Don’t worry, I figured as much.” Mr. Sassounian smiled kindly. “Please, have some cookies and make yourself some coffee. I cannot start my day without coffee. What is that on your shirt? Surely those are not Puerto Rican letters.” “No, it’s Japanese.” “Oh, you study Japanese?” Gabriel blushed. “I really like their anime and manga.” “Oh.” The old man nodded sagely. “I do not know what that is, but it must be good. I also like Chinese food.” Gabriel sighed. 70

Calor del Amor “What is wrong? Please tell me! You are not upset that you are a few minutes late?” “No, no, well, yes I am, but it’s not just that.” He hesitated, wondering if he should tell, but not wishing to open up any avenues for questions. Mr. Sassounian waited and Gabriel found himself telling him about the robbery. “Yeghitsi anun Dyarn orhnyal! That’s terrible! You should have called me and not come into work today! What an awful thing! What did they take?” “They took my laptop and they broke my television …” “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I have an old laptop I can lend you and a television moldering in my basement. Come, come, eat a cookie while I make you coffee. My grandmother used to tell us children that almost everything can be solved in this way.” Gabriel had to smile. “You see! Let me tell you, everything will be alright. And I am so glad to have the opportunity to get rid of that monstrous television. I never took to watching it, and it takes up so much space.” “Oh, no I couldn’t possibly accept …” Gabriel began to say, but Mr. Sassounian cut him off. “No, I insist. You will be alright now. Come and sit at your new desk. When you are not doing deliveries, you can sit here and do odd jobs I give 71

K. B. Forrest you, ne? Since you are here, I might as well put you to work. I need to make a few telephone calls this morning, so I’ll ask you not to disturb me until I come out. In the meanwhile, I want you to file these papers and straighten this place up.” Gabriel was glad to start work. After a while, he almost forgot about his troubles, even the worst one, that hateful Detective Cardoza. **** Detective Alejandro Cardoza watched the kid disappear into the import-export outlet and he felt his heart harden with fury. So, his suspicions were dead on the mark! The only thing he hadn’t calculated was his level of expertise. Gabriel must have spotted him as soon as he boarded the subway, possibly before that. He’d been too cocky; he must remember that mistake. Gabriel knew he was following him; that much was certain. The way he zigzagged and retraced his steps was professional. After the kid ducked into that café to watch for him, Cardoza had to pull way back and wait in a bookstore. It was more luck than anything else that he spotted the kid again. Like a fox, he’d backtracked and slunk into his lair. Cardoza was disappointed that the Armenians were apparently involved in baby trafficking as 72

Calor del Amor well. Fundraising was probably the motivating factor. A friend of Cardoza’s was compiling a file on Ara Sassounian, and he remembered his friend complaining about how crafty the Armenian was. They had nothing at all on him yet, but Mr. Sassounian was suspected of smuggling Chinese weaponry to Armenia to help the Armenians fight against the Turkish nationalists. He was the kind of lawbreaker that usually got away because he covered his tracks so well. Cardoza’s friend said that the Armenian Liberation Front would do anything for their cause, but at the time, he dismissed that and reminded his friend about the terrible plight of the Armenians. But this new development made him lose sympathy for the ALF, holocaust or no holocaust. At least now, he knew how Gabriel was smuggling those poor girls into the country. He and his girlfriend must have worked out a deal with Ara Sassounian and his Armenian gang. Cardoza grinned mirthlessly. So the kid was smart indeed. He had claimed to be gay, just to throw him off. He was sorely disappointed, but the excitement of breaking the case made up for it. Cardoza stared at the shop for a moment, and then melded back into the traffic of pedestrians. I’m going to catch those two if it’s the last thing I do.

73

K. B. Forrest

Chapter Eight

G

abriel finished filing the stack of papers and now he sat uncertainly. Mr. Sassounian’s door was still closed, and he wondered if he had just forgotten about him. Gabriel rearranged the paperclips on his desk. He wanted to forget about Detective Cardoza, but it seemed like all he did was pick apart their conversation and kick himself for all the things he’d said to him. How could he be so stupid? He succeeded in making Detective Cardoza suspicious. And Dottie certainly hadn’t helped. The worst thing was that despite everything, the scent of him kept rising unbidden in Gabriel’s mind. His strong neck and manly features kept popping up in his mental vision. As Gabriel arranged the desk, his wayward mind imagined the feel of him — how he would touch him … He had leaned in so close. Gabriel had been able to smell the faint cologne mixed with the intoxicating smell of his body. Gabriel had never 74

Calor del Amor kissed before, and even in his fear, when the man had leaned so close, he had wanted to feel those lips crushing his. The intense, dark eyes called to him. No! No! No! He’s a bad cop! He’ll help my father! Gabriel hoped he would stay far away. Maybe he’d choke on a donut or fall down a flight of stairs and crack his head hard enough to forget about his stupid ‘investigation.’ Yes, that would be the perfect solution. Suddenly his reverie was broken by a rough voice. It came from behind Mr. Sassounian’s door, but it was so impassioned and angry that it hardly sounded like the gentle old man he knew. He assumed the language he spoke in must be Armenian. Gabriel crept toward his door to try to hear him. He hung up the phone and Gabriel rushed back to his seat. After a few minutes, Mr. Sassounian emerged from his office. His face was still red, but he smiled at him as if nothing were wrong. “Ah, finished already, Gabriel? Excellent. It is time to go home now.” “But sir, it’s only three o’clock! I’m willing to work the whole day.” “No, no, I am an old man and I need my sleep. Do not worry; I will pay you for the entire day. Come now and carry that old television to my car. We will drop it off at your apartment.” 75

K. B. Forrest Gabriel saw that he had a laptop bag slung over his shoulder. When he saw him looking, Mr. Sassounian made a dismissive gesture at the bag. “I don’t even know how to use this. It belongs to my grandson; I’ll have to ask him if he still wants it, but in the meantime you can use it. Very confusing it is, and nearly useless too.” “Mr. Sassounian! I don’t know how to thank you!” He waved Gabriel off and led him down to the basement where the television was. He tried to thank Mr. Sassounian again, but he insisted that it was nothing. It made Gabriel feel even more grateful for his kindness. They drove to Gabriel’s apartment and all the while Mr. Sassounian kept up a fascinating monologue about his relatives and the many superstitions his grandmother had. Gabriel found himself laughing and relaxed for the first time in many years. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all. Now that he had a computer to borrow, he could continue his writing career. That, above everything, made his heart soar! **** Detective Cardoza’s eyes were fixed on Gabriel as he and the Armenian left the import-export outlet. What a cozy relationship. Just look at that, a new 76

Calor del Amor television. And if I’m not mistaken, that old man is carrying a laptop bag! Those are probably his backup files on the girls they’re exploiting. Cardoza looked around hurriedly, and hailed a cab. “Follow that white Honda.” “Whatever you say, Jack.” Not surprisingly, the Armenian drove to Gabriel’s apartment. Cardoza decided it was time to have another chat with la Gata Negra’s boy.

77

K. B. Forrest

Chapter Nine

G

abriel rubbed the back of his neck and stretched. He was tired, but mostly because of his harried night. There was still good in the world, and Mr. Sassounian had restored hope in him after the horrible events of the night. He thought about Detective Cardoza again. He hoped he wouldn’t come back and break up the happy mood he was in. While his appearance was disarming, Gabriel was deeply distressed to find that he felt both fear and guilt when confronted with Cardoza’s icy stare. Gabriel sighed and opened the laptop, deciding he could start by writing an outline for his story. Let’s see, murder, suspicion … Gabriel’s musing was shattered by a businesslike knock at the door. He knew instantly that it was Detective Cardoza. Speak of the Devil and … “Mr. Palacios? Please open the door. It’s Detective Cardoza.” 78

Calor del Amor Gabriel trembled with a strange mixture of fear and excitement. “Just a moment.” He looked at the windows, wondering if he should try to escape. He decided he wouldn’t get far. As Gabriel opened the door, Cardoza began to step in. Gabriel held the door and stood in front of him. “May I come in?” “What? What now?” “I’m back as promised to ask a few more questions, Mr. Palacios.” He reached into his fine suit jacket and extracted his leather bound notebook. “I told you, I … I …” Cardoza suddenly pushed Gabriel into the apartment, and had him pinned against the wall again. For a few long minutes, he just stared into Gabriel’s eyes. He put his hands out reflexively, but the bigger man caught them and held them by the wrist on level with Gabriel’s head. Cardoza squeezed his wrists against the wall as he continued to stare. Gabriel tried to return his stare, but found that he couldn’t. His eyes shifted from side to side, and then he looked away. He tried to move his hands, but Cardoza had them firmly. Detective Cardoza smiled cruelly and bending down, he took a long lick along Gabriel’s left arm, and then he did the same to his right arm. He was slow and deliberate. Gabriel whimpered and averted his eyes. 79

K. B. Forrest “So you say you’re gay, huh? You’re sure you don’t have a girlfriend? You don’t have a Hispanic girlfriend? One with long black hair and a mole near her mouth?” Gabriel sucked in air as if he were having trouble breathing, and he was. “No! I told you …” Cardoza slowly moved closer. Gabriel was paralyzed with fear and he stopped struggling. Gently Cardoza’s lips grazed his, and then they were together. Gabriel tried to resist, but he felt no strength at all. Cardoza’s hungry lips moved over his and then pressed him as if he were a starved animal. Gabriel’s head was pushed back to the wall and he felt Cardoza’s tongue caress his gently. Soon he moved his lips and he lapped at Gabriel’s face all around his mouth. He slid down to Gabriel’s neck and kissed him all along his throat as he pressed his body closer and closer. Gabriel felt the detective’s erection prod his belly and he responded, despite his fear. Cardoza ground his pelvis against Gabriel’s and their lips met again. Gabriel lost sense of time in his first kiss and didn’t know who or where he was. As the man kissed his way to Gabriel’s gasping throat, the room began to spin and go dark. **** Cardoza thought the young man was returning his 80

Calor del Amor kiss, but he leaned into him because he fainted. He grappled with the limp body for a few seconds before he could lift him onto the bed. He made sure that the door was locked, and checked the boy’s pale face. He cursed under his breath. He hadn’t meant to do this. It was more of a test. He thought the boy was lying about being gay to cover over his relationship with la Gata Negra, but he had gone too far. He felt a stab of panic. He had never, ever broken the law, so what was he doing this for? What if the kid was a minor? He saw the bulge in the pocket and checked for a wallet. There was a driver’s license in there. His name was Gabriel P. Connerly, eighteen years old. Well at least that was okay, but he had forced himself on the kid. His t-shirt was pulled up on one side and Cardoza noticed a dark mark. He yanked on the shirt and gasped when he saw the many ugly bruises on the young man’s body. He then remembered the marks he’d seen on his arms the other day. The kid was probably covered with bruises. Who could be beating him? Was he in some deep trouble? Was la Gata Negra rough with him? The kid stirred and moaned. “Mama …” Oh God! The kid wants his mama! He felt guilty. “Hey Gabriel, are you okay?” He shook him gently. 81

K. B. Forrest The kid spit up some clear liquid and looked up miserably. “I didn’t do anything.” “When was the last time you ate?” The kid looked confused. “I don’t know. I had a cookie at lunch.” “And before that?” “I forget.” Gabriel looked like a kid being chastised. His bottom lip trembled. “If this is your first time away from home, you got to learn how to eat right, okay? If you don’t, then you better get on home to your mama!” The kid sat up and began to cry. Cardoza didn’t know how to respond, so he put a hand over Gabriel’s back and rubbed him. He continued to cry, so Cardoza lifted him onto his lap and used his handkerchief to wipe his face. “My … my mother died last year. I don’t have a home, so I can’t go back! My dad hates my guts!” “Hey, hey … I’m sorry already. I didn’t mean to upset you … and about what I did, I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. It wasn’t bad. It was my first time though, so I wanted to … you know, do it with someone I loved!” Gabriel almost wailed and he fidgeted with the end of his shirt. “It’s not like we did it or something. It was just a kiss. Was it okay for you? Are you feeling better? Look, let me get you something to eat. You stay here and stay in bed for now.” He pushed Gabriel down to the mattress and saw that there was no 82

Calor del Amor pillow. He found a shirt on the floor and rolled it before placing it under his head, and then he pulled a sheet over him before he left. **** Gabriel watched the man go, and his body began to tremble again. He was glad he had passed out, because it made him go limp down there. It wasn’t his fault that he’d gotten that embarrassing erection. He had never been kissed before. That kiss … He moaned as he remembered the firm lips against his — the heat of his breath and the feel of a hard body pressing on his. He shook his head from side to side. No! I can’t get like that! He did feel weak. That cop had noticed. He hadn’t eaten right since the day before he left home — just a donut and some cookies. But he wondered what was up. Why did Detective Cardoza kiss him? Probably to determine if he were gay, since he seemed so fixated on the girlfriend he kept mentioning. Gabriel wondered if the kiss was enough to prove the point, but he hadn’t had the sense to return it at all! The door opened and Detective Cardoza walked in with a large bag and something from a deli. He tore open the big bag and pulled out a pillow. He set it down and took Gabriel by the shoulders and hauled him up so that his back was 83

K. B. Forrest propped by the pillow. “Now, that’s better. I got us something from my favorite deli. Here are some drinks too. When I first went off to college when I was seventeen, I was like you - shy. I was so shy that I didn’t want to go to the cafeteria alone, but hey, you learn … What? Do you hurt or something?” Gabriel was ashamed that he couldn’t stop his tears. “I’m sorry! It’s just that since Mom died nobody has ever done anything like this … I’m really sorry to trouble you!” Cardoza rubbed his back gently and Gabriel felt his damn prick perking up again. He adjusted the sheet so that it was less visible. He was confused as he was attacked by the onslaught of strange emotions. He was afraid of his father, deeply grieved for his mother, and in love with this weird man. Nothing made sense anymore. Gabriel felt Cardoza watching as took a bite of his sandwich. Soon they were done and there was an uncomfortable silence. Cardoza stood there with a slight smile on his face. “Have you gotten a job yet, Mr. Palacios, or can I call you Gabriel?” Gabriel quickly considered lying, but he blurted out, “Gabriel is okay. Yes. I work for a retailer.” “You mind telling me for whom you work?” “It’s an import-export business,” Gabriel said evasively. “So … I thought you said it was a retailer.” 84

Calor del Amor “Well, I mean, it was only my first day; I’m not sure.” “Come now, don’t be so vague. Who do you work for specifically?” Gabriel fumbled with a paper napkin. “I forget the name of it right now. Listen, you make me nervous with all these questions. You know, I didn’t rob myself! I’m not seeking insurance, so why do I have to answer all these questions?” “What’s the name of your employer?” Cardoza stared at Gabriel as if he could ferret clues from his behavior. Gabriel felt naked in front of him; as if he could see into his inner soul. “His name is Mr. Sassounian.” “How long have you worked with Mr. Sassounian?” “What kind of question is that? I just told you that it was my first day!” “Now, don’t get yourself all upset again. These are routine questions. I’m not a bad guy, am I? I got you lunch, right? So tell me, have you known Mr. Sassounian for long?” “No!” “Nice television set. Looks like you replaced your broken one quickly! Looks expensive.” Gabriel squirmed, but said nothing. Detective Cardoza scanned the apartment and saw the laptop computer. “Hmm… seems like you replaced that too.” 85

K. B. Forrest “That’s none of your business! Stop looking at my stuff! Do you have a some kind of search warrant?” “No. Should I get one?” A smile played on Cardoza’s lips. “So, where’d you buy the computer?” “I borrowed it from a friend.” “I thought you were new here. Which friend?” “I borrowed it from Mr. Sassounian.” He couldn’t keep himself from blurting out the truth. “I see. You claim that you just met him, and he lends you a valuable computer? Hmm … He must pay quite a bit too.” Cardoza walked over to the laptop and peered at the screen. He hit a key and looked up at Gabriel. “Murder? What is this?” “No … nothing! I’m writing a novel. It’s none of your business!” “Have you been overseas in the past five years?” Cardoza narrowed his eyes and continued grilling him. Gabriel was frightened, and he tried to hide his shaking hands. “Well, I visited Puerto Rico when I was twelve, but that’s not overseas. That’s part of the U.S. It’s not a foreign …” “Alright already!” Cardoza grimaced in annoyance. “Gabriel, I am Puerto Rican, so you don’t have to convince me.” “So never been to a foreign country? Never to 86

Calor del Amor South America?” Cardoza moved closer. His hand reached for Gabriel’s face and he stroked his cheek with his thumb. He bent closer. Gabriel felt his hot breath, and looked into his intense eyes until he could no longer stand it. Gabriel stood up from the bed suddenly and backed away from him. He stepped back nervously and the back of his leg struck the leg of a rickety chair. Before he could regain his balance, Gabriel began to fall. Detective Cardoza’s notebook fell from his hands as he dashed forward and grabbed Gabriel by both shoulders. For a moment, Gabriel’s knees buckled and Cardoza was holding him close to his broad chest. Gabriel’s arms instinctively wrapped around him and the anxiety that had been eating away at his soul overwhelmed him. He began to sob into Cardoza’s chest and he held Gabriel tightly so that he heard the steady thumping of his heart. With his left hand, Cardoza began to stroke Gabriel’s hair, and for a moment, he felt his warm breath near his ear. They were silent for what seemed to Gabriel like an eternity. For that moment, Gabriel felt as if he had died and was floating in a place where nothing bad could touch him. His father couldn’t hurt him and the questions were far away. All he was aware of was the spicy smell of Cardoza’s skin and his strong 87

K. B. Forrest embrace. He wanted to stay like that forever. Cardoza held him with one arm, and with the other tipped his head back. Gabriel couldn’t stop his lips from parting in welcome as the man dipped in and tasted him. With their faces so close, Gabriel felt the soft, hot breath of the man inviting him to come closer, to join with him. His tongue, which had avoided the one being thrust into him, now had a mind of its own and it shyly ventured into the other man’s mouth, but retreated hastily. The act seemed to fuel Cardoza’s passion. He bent in so that Gabriel felt his balance slip. He was held by one strong arm around his waist and another holding him by the back. He sighed deeply as he felt the man’s erection poke his belly. His own rubbed against the man’s thigh. For a few breathless minutes, they joined, lips to lips, and hot bodies against unwanted clothing. Gabriel felt that he would burst, and the thought embarrassed him out of the man’s spell. It was like when you wake from a good dream and you want to continue sleeping, but it’s too late. Gabriel pushed away from him and saw that Cardoza’s eyes were slightly moist. Gabriel wished that they’d met under different circumstances, but then he remembered; Cardoza was the hunting dog, and he was the frightened fox. “Enough for now,” Detective Cardoza said in a 88

Calor del Amor husky voice. “I’ll see you again soon, but take care of yourself. You better …” He broke off as if he were unsure of what to do next. Then he was gone. **** Detective Cardoza closed the door of the apartment and paused as he straightened his jacket. He buttoned it to conceal the bulge that had returned with a fury. He’d have to expand his investigation. Who was this young man who was driving him crazy? He showed up out of nowhere, lied about his work, about Mr. Sassounian, about the computer! And then, to make matters worse, now I can’t shake the feelings that I have for him. He recalled the way Gabriel’s tongue delicately licked those rosy lips after tasting the sandwich. He was inflamed by the shyness of his presence, the way Gabriel looked from side to side as if trying to escape his hungry eyes, while still unable to conceal his own desires. He could still feel the silky hair, the soft skin, and Gabriel’s surrender in his arms. The musky scent of him was branded into Cardoza’s heart and he wished he could forget the investigation and hold him again. He wished he could hold the angel Gabriel for eternity. He’d never wanted anything so badly in his life, yet it was the one thing he couldn’t have. 89

K. B. Forrest His mother had warned him that the Devil could take the form of a very handsome man. He wondered if this irresistible young man was a devil. He steeled himself. He knew he had to question the kid, but it was hard. Either Gabriel was an immature kid struggling with being alone for the first time, or he was a sly con man, and he, the slick and super-smart Detective Cardoza, was being conned! “What is your story, kid? Are you la Gata Negra’s pawn? What were you writing in that computer?” His heart broke as he heard Gabriel’s sobs though the thin door. He turned, thinking to knock at the door and comfort him again. To hold him in his arms like that again … Cardoza steeled himself and looked forward. He had to remember his task. He had to find the wicked criminal responsible for ruining many innocent lives. He didn’t have time to fall in love, and certainly he couldn’t fall in love with a suspect!

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Chapter Ten

C

ardoza didn’t make it a habit to eavesdrop, but in the case of Kelly, it was different. He suspected Kelly was trying to pull something over on him, and he had to be careful. It was the way Kelly hunkered over his phone that caught his attention this time. He listened as Kelly laughed, and then sounded serious. “Officer Connerly with the Cleveland P.D.? Yeah, I know Orlando. He was your friend too? Yeah, he’s a riot. Sure, what?” There was a long pause. “Your kid ran off with that much money? … with an older woman? Damn!” Cardoza moved closer to the open door, but kept to the wall. “That bitch that ran off with your kid reminds me of my ex-wife; she’d do something like that. My bitchin’ ex has me by the balls with child support and alimony. I don’t know who got the shittier end of the stick, you or me. That bitch robs me every day and it’s legal! At least you can do 91

K. B. Forrest something about your situation, since your kid is underage.” Kelly laughed. “Well my ex better start watching her back too. Pretty stupid to mess with us cops. … Sure, you got it. Listen, I’ll run your kid’s name through the computer and see what I come up with. If he’s doing business with this bitch, there may be a chance someone’s already brought him into juvenile. I’ll check any new reports and tell my underlings to keep their eyes out for them.” He laughed again. “Yeah, no problem. Look, I got to run; I’ll get back to you when I can.” Cardoza saw Kelly put the phone down smiling, but his grin faded as he looked up to see him. “Hey, Cardoza, you like what you see, or you just eavesdropping? In this country that’s rude, you know.” Cardoza said nothing and Kelly smirked. “So, how’s your big case going?” “What case? The one you blew because you don’t know Spanish?” “I know tons of Spanish. For instance, after I banged your mother last night I said, ‘muchas gracias, puta.’ See, I know tons of Spanish.” “Okay, then, tell me what this means: ‘besame mi culo.’” “It means my name is Mr. Cardoza and I’m a 92

Calor del Amor wet-back who blows bean farts all day.” Kelly smiled at his own humor. “Good luck with your case.” “Guasa, guasa,” was all Cardoza said in a low growl. He wondered what that call had been about.

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Chapter Eleven

D

etective Cardoza reviewed his notes for the tenth time. It seemed that he was so close, yet he lacked the information he needed to make any real progress. He swung his chair around to his computer and logged in. He always liked to get a visceral feel for a case before he turned to the databases. Sometimes the information you got from the computer clouded your sense of what was really at the heart of a case. He felt like this ever since the time he had entered a suspect’s name into the computer and found out that he’d been arrested for distribution of drugs. The case involved the hit and run death of the suspect’s wife. When confronted with the evidence of his previous arrest on drug charges, the suspect broke down and cried. He confessed that he had a drug problem and that he’d run up bills that he couldn’t pay. He said that his supplier had run down his wife because of this. He offered to enter a rehab program, and he was never 94

Calor del Amor charged with the crime. It was only later that Cardoza had followed it up and found out that the couple was on the verge of a divorce and that the suspect had killed his wife after she had threatened to hire a fancy lawyer and get half of their estate. Cardoza felt cheated by the computer, which had set him in the wrong direction. He began to type Gabriel’s name into the database and halfway through it came up as a choice. Cardoza was stunned. Somebody else had recently entered his name into the search engine. He quickly accessed the log, which recorded who had sought a particular piece of information. This log was an annoyance, but it had been incorporated into the program to make it easier to follow an investigation. Detective Richard Kelly’s name popped up on the screen and Cardoza gripped the armrests of his chair. So that was it. Kelly hadn’t really handed over the case. He was withholding information. He probably learned more from the murdered girl than he had admitted. His only purpose would be to crack the case before Cardoza could. He wanted so badly to make Cardoza look like a fool. He searched Gabriel’s name and came up with several hits, but they didn’t match the young man he knew. One was for a thirty-five year old petty 95

K. B. Forrest thief, one an illegal alien child. He was having no luck. It looked like the kid was clean, but why had he lied? He had to solve the case before Kelly did. He wondered what the rat knew about Gabriel. For a moment, he considered asking him, but he just couldn’t do it. A fingerprint search was the only sure way of getting Gabriel’s identity. He mulled that over and hesitated. It was proper procedure to enter the information he had gathered on la Gata Negra’s case into the computer, but he decided to wait. He didn’t need to give Kelly any leads. The jerk wasn’t sharing with him! He entered his information onto a yellow legal pad and put it into his desk drawer. It gave him a thrill to think about seeing Gabriel again. Cardoza gathered his things and turned off the computer. **** Gabriel was tired as he walked along the final leg of his journey home. Mr. Sassounian was a kind boss, but today he’d kept him very busy. He fell asleep during his lunch break, and for the rest of the day he’d been suffering from a headache. He really needed to eat right, just as Detective Cardoza had warned him. The thought of what he had felt that evening stirred emotions in him that he tried to push down, but it was useless. Besides 96

Calor del Amor that, worry was wearing him ragged and he just wanted to rest for a few hours and sort things out in his head. Then the memory of the man he saw earlier that morning popped into his head. He remembered the guy from somewhere. Why did he have that camera? The guy seemed to be taking pictures of him, but why? He just needed to write his novel and forget all of this. When he wrote, he entered a world under his own control. It was a world where endings would always be happy, and boys always fell in love. He became absorbed in plotting the next scene in his head. As Gabriel neared his apartment, he passed a telephone pole with an odd flier attached to it. He glanced at it, and then did a double take as he recognized his own face. Yes, it was unmistakable. His mouth dropped open and he tore the offensive paper off the pole. It’s Jake, my dad has found me! The thought made him stand there on the sidewalk as if he’d been struck by lightning. He could feel the blood drain from his face. He ran the remainder of the distance to his apartment, not even seeing the other flier on the nearer telephone pole. As he hurried in, all he wanted to do was run into his apartment, but Dottie’s loud voice stopped him. 97

K. B. Forrest “Hey, kid, is that you? I’ve been waiting all afternoon for you; you wouldn’t believe what I found at Patel’s grocery store when I stopped by for a few cigarettes. Look at this poster! And there was another one right outside of Stop-and-Shop. Are you in some kind of trouble, boy?” Gabriel swayed slightly, feeling as if he were about to faint. He covered his mouth with his hand and tried not to cry out. “You can tell me you know, because if you’ve got trouble, you should have told me before you moved in. I don’t like trouble, you know. What is it, drugs?” Gabriel couldn’t stop a ragged sob. He pictured his father somewhere close by, watching him. He grabbed the flier from Dottie’s hammy hands and crumpled it. “Do you need me to call the police again? I’ll call the police again.” “No, no! Please. Please don’t call! I’ll be okay!” Gabriel backed away from Dottie and fumbled for the keys to his apartment. “Well you don’t look okay to me, but what do I know?” Dottie shook her head in disgust and began to shuffle back up the stairs in her house slippers. “Jimmy is gonna hear about this. I can’t believe it. This is the last time I take a tenant from him. The very last time!” 98

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**** Gabriel locked the door behind him and fell down onto the lumpy bed. His head throbbed, and he hadn’t eaten again all day. He stared at the second poster, and then crumpled that one up too. No one but his father could be behind this. He hadn’t been in the city long enough to even meet anyone, what to speak of to make enemies! It was Jake; he had no doubt. Now his dad was teasing him with this cat and mouse game; he wanted Gabriel to suffer, to know what was coming so he would be afraid. His father had talked and talked about the brotherhood of police, but Gabriel couldn’t believe that his dad’s friends could be so resourceful or so wicked. He decided to call Mrs. Morgenstein again, but then he imagined Detective Cardoza’s cruel, victorious grin. Who could help him now? How long do I have to live? **** Cardoza’s hand shook slightly as he pulled on a pair of evidence gloves and he loosened the staples that held the wanted poster onto the telephone pole outside of Gabriel’s apartment. He slipped it into the evidence bag and shook his head. He was certain now that some vengeful 99

K. B. Forrest relative of one of the girls, or maybe one of the girls, was after Gabriel. Someone he and his girlfriend had victimized was angry and ready to get revenge, but how could such an innocent looking kid be involved in this shit? Maybe he was being controlled by that ruthless woman who was taking advantage of him! He looked closely at the poster. It was printed with an inkjet printer on an ordinary eight and a half by eleven inches piece of copy paper. Any home contained those items nowadays, and if there were any prints on it, what could they tell him? He shivered. If someone murders Gabriel in revenge for what he’s done, then I will have his or her prints. It wasn’t a pretty thought, but maybe Gabriel had gotten himself into something seriously dangerous. He began to approach Gabriel’s door when he saw a young, pregnant Hispanic girl rush from the apartment’s steps and race into a car driven by a Black man. It took off before he could stop her to talk. He rushed to his car and pulled into traffic, but he already knew that it would be a senseless pursuit. He’d lost them. **** Gabriel sat on his lumpy bed plotting. Mrs. Morgenstein had nothing new to tell him except 100

Calor del Amor that his dad had made more noises upstairs. He told her about the problems with the police, and she was concerned. She thought he should approach Detective DiPalma, but he had no desire to live in jail while they investigated. He knew it was only a matter of time before his father, and maybe other cops came to arrest him. He was unable to write as his anxiety grabbed him and tried to pull him under. He felt that he had no shelter. It wouldn’t be right to involve his Puerto Rican family, but what could he do? Perhaps fleeing in any direction would be better than waiting to be arrested, but he knew that it would only prolong his suffering. They would eventually catch him. Gabriel wondered if they were watching him right now. He thought he was being paranoid, but couldn’t help peering out of his window. Gabriel started as he saw him. It was that man he’d seen the other day! He was stuffing something into his mouth, but he was staring at the apartment! He suddenly remembered. He was the man from the Amtrak! Bernie something or other! The professor from Columbia University — at least that’s what he had said. What could he have to do with Jake? A cold chill ran through him and he bolted for the bathroom, his bile rising. **** 101

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After seeing the fleeing pregnant girl, Detective Cardoza realized just how much he had wanted Gabriel to be innocent. He never really admitted to himself how much he wanted him. Now there was no way to turn back. Gabriel would soon be safely in jail and he would no longer have to worry about someone killing him. His heart sank at the thought. Cardoza ignored his distress and called the owner of a restaurant who owed him a favor. He had to obtain prints, and maybe this was the way. It would be illegal to take something from his apartment, but this way … well it had worked in the past. He rehearsed what he would say in his mind. Asking Gabriel out to eat might work. Maybe it had been his imagination, but he had felt Gabriel melt against him. Maybe it was just his arrogance, or maybe Gabriel was just a great actor, but he thought the kid had a thing for him. He thought he could see it in the way he looked at him. If only we had met under different circumstances. What would it be like to hold that angel every day and to awake to the ambrosial scent of him sleeping next to me?

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Chapter Twelve

G

abriel woke with a start when he heard a knock at his door. He must have fallen asleep as he lay on his bed thinking about all his troubles. He bolted to his feet, knocking one of the crumpled papers to the floor. The person behind the door knocked again and all Gabriel could think of was his dad standing outside the door like an evil spirit. He stared at the door, shaking. He could almost feel his hate and see the smile on his father’s face. “Gabriel?” Gabriel felt himself shrinking as he recognized Detective Cardoza’s voice. He supposed it was only fitting that his dad would bring his friend along; after all, he had probably helped Jake track him down. Probably his dad had told Cardoza about him being gay and that kiss was just a joke. “Just kiss him and see if that faggot doesn’t put out for you.” He could almost hear his father saying that. 103

K. B. Forrest “Please open up; I would like to speak with you.” Gabriel opened the door with hands that shook. He felt himself relax a bit when he saw that his dad was nowhere in sight. Cardoza stood alone, looking as handsome as ever. “What do you want?” Cardoza seemed a bit taken aback, but recovered quickly. Gabriel became aware of what a mess he must look like. He made a futile attempt to smooth his messy ponytail. “I’m not here on business, today.” His mellow voice did nothing to calm Gabriel. Not business? He can only mean Jake sent him! Gabriel began to tremble with fear. So, it had come to this. “May I come in?” Gabriel stared at him. His headache was back in full force. He supposed it was useless to tell him to go away, so he pulled up the chain and opened the door for him. Cardoza stood in the apartment and looked around. “Did you come here to stare at my stuff or to say something to me?” Gabriel hated the tremor in his voice, even more so when Cardoza shot him a look that was close to compassionate. “I do want to speak with you. Maybe we should sit?” 104

Calor del Amor Gabriel felt his cheeks redden. He led the way into the kitchenette, feeling embarrassed about the mismatched chairs and the scarred card table. “Um … like I don’t have coffee or anything, but I found this old teabag in the cupboard … if you want.” Gabriel shuffled uncertainly. “No, no thank you. I actually just wanted to talk with you. I wanted to know if you had any plans for tonight.” Gabriel stared at him, certain he hadn’t heard correctly. For a dizzying moment, he thought Detective Cardoza was asking him out on a date. Then he remembered Jake. Was Cardoza luring him into some kind of trap? Cardoza was waiting for his response. Gabriel’s eyes shifted uncomfortably and his hands suddenly became restless. “I suppose.” “Great.” Cardoza smiled. “You look hungry. Have you eaten?” “Well, I kind of, you know, forgot.” He was so handsome that Gabriel couldn’t think for a moment. It seemed like Cardoza was genuinely happy, and the transformation from a chiseled Greek statute to a real human was stunning. “I know of a great place where I’d like to take you. How about I come by at eight P.M. and pick 105

K. B. Forrest you up?” Gabriel smiled back at him, despite his fears. “That would be great.” Suddenly he found his eyes trapped in Cardoza’s stare. Gabriel felt himself squirm and he looked away. “Well, I’ll come back at eight.” Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief, and he walked back with Cardoza towards the door. Gabriel froze as Cardoza paused by the bed. He picked up one of the papers that he’d crumpled up and began to straighten it out. “You mind telling me what this is?” He smoothed out the crumpled wanted poster. “It’s nothing. Just some prank.” He remembered the kooky man, “Bernie,” whom he had seen earlier. Should I mention it? The thought was short lived when he saw the look on Cardoza’s face. He raised his eyebrow and fixed Gabriel with an intense stare. “Some pranks can be dangerous.” Gabriel said nothing. Cardoza set the paper back down on the bed. “You want to tell me anything, Gabriel?” “There’s nothing to tell, Detective Cardoza.” Gabriel couldn’t meet Cardoza’s eyes. As if you didn’t know everything already! “Hey, my name is Alejandro. You can call me that. Well, I’d better get going. I’ll see you at eight.” 106

Calor del Amor Gabriel nodded. As soon as the door closed behind him, he began to curse himself for accepting his offer. He knew Cardoza must have some evil motivation for asking him out. So why did it still make him feel butterflies in his stomach?

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Chapter Thirteen

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hen he knocked at the door, Cardoza thought he heard Gabriel scurry. He was wearing a suit that was even more stylish than usual, but he felt flustered when Gabriel opened the door and then looked down at his own faded jeans and tshirt, blushing deeply. “I … I just thought we were like going to some sandwich joint or something. Um … I’m sorry. I really don’t have any nice clothes, Detective Cardoza.” “Don’t worry! Hey, it will be okay. And quit with the ‘Detective Cardoza’ stuff. I told you that you can call me Alejandro.” “Alejandro …” Gabriel muttered, looking down. Cardoza had sworn he would be all business, but Gabriel’s blushing face undid him. He took Gabriel’s chin in one hand and tilted his head back gently. His body disobeyed every command he screamed to it as he bent his head and kissed the 108

Calor del Amor delicate lips that trembled so at his touch. “Is this alright with you, Gabriel? Are you okay with it?” The young man looked into his eyes for a moment and lowered his long lashes. His lips quivered. “I … don’t know. Please don’t ask such embarrassing questions.” Cardoza wiped a lock of hair away from Gabriel’s cheek. “Just say no, if you ever want me to stop, okay? You promise?” “Okay.” The boy didn’t pull away, so Cardoza kissed him again and licked those honey-flavored lips. He had to force himself not to go further. Gabriel blushed and Cardoza took him by his arm. Alejandro Cardoza stopped in front of a red sports car that seemed out of place in the rundown neighborhood. “Is this your car? I don’t know that much about cars, but this looks too fancy for a detective to be able to afford.” “Yes, it’s a Ferrari. I got it for myself as a present when I was promoted to detective.” “It’s beautiful,” Gabriel said with child-like sincerity. Cardoza shrugged dismissively. “I’ll get sick of it soon, but I guess it’ll do for now. Do you like cars?” “Yeah. This is really cool!” Gabriel climbed in 109

K. B. Forrest and ran his hand over the leather seats. Cardoza got in and pulled the Ferrari out into the street, but he couldn’t help glancing over at Gabriel. “So, are you married, Detective … I mean Alejandro?” Cardoza laughed. “Need I prove that I’m gay? I can do that, you know! No, I’m not married and I also haven’t had a lover in over a year; what about you?” Gabriel blushed furiously. “I only ever had one boyfriend … well, he really wasn’t a boyfriend, but I confessed my love to him, and we were friends for a while. He was straight and all.” “So, I suppose he broke it off because he was straight and felt uncomfortable about it?” Cardoza saw the way Gabriel’s face paled. “We never did anything besides play computer games together, but I made the mistake of making him a corny Valentine’s card.” “Oh, that turned him off?” “No. My dad found it. He beat the crap out of me and threatened Tim. After that Tim never talked to me again; in fact, nobody at school ever did. I became ‘the fag’ so everyone knew.” Gabriel’s voice was catching and he turned and looked away. Cardoza was stunned with the sadness the boy seemed to feel. “We don’t have it easy, do we?” 110

Calor del Amor He wanted to take Gabriel into his arms and promise to protect him forever. “So what made you want to be a cop?” Gabriel seemed to want to change the subject, which had obviously become uncomfortable for him. Cardoza chuckled. “That wasn’t easy, especially with my father dead set against it. He put me through Harvard and he expected me to do more with my degree in criminal justice. I was supposed to go to law school and become a lawyer and then a judge, but I had other plans. My father says I love being a bad boy, and I guess he’s right. I’m so good at it.” He pushed the accelerator of the fancy car to make his point and the engine roared to life. Gabriel laughed, and Cardoza was relieved that he seemed somewhat happier. The streetlights and signs lit up the streets. “You see, I’ve always wanted to help people, and this is how I do it best. I feel like I can really make a difference when I go after these criminals. “My father could never understand this. He just thinks I’m being rebellious. He wants me to put my education towards something more worthy, but if he ever spent just one day with me seeing the families of the victims …” He shook his head. “Especially in the Hispanic community. Many Hispanics feel more comfortable talking with one of their own. That makes me think of something I 111

K. B. Forrest wanted to ask you. I’m pretty sure you’re not Italian with a name like Palacios.” “Oh no, I’m from Puerto Rico, or at least my parents were.” “Well then, it seems like we’ve got more in common than I thought! Does your family live around here?” “Um, well, um, yes, but I’m …” “Hey, you can tell me when you feel comfortable about it.” Gabriel squirmed. “Okay, thanks, but I really want to know more about you. Where are your parents right now?” “They’re in Puerto Rico. They live on a sugarcane plantation. It’s been in our family for generations.” “Wow, a plantation in Puerto Rico! No wonder you can afford a fancy car!” “My parents travel a lot. Last week in fact they visited Munich. You ever been there?” “No. I’ve never really been anywhere but New York and once to Puerto Rico.” “But I thought you said you traveled here from California?” Cardoza glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. Gabriel paled. “Well yes I did, I wasn’t thinking of that. Of course.” “Of course. What did you do there?” “I wanted to … to be an actor.” 112

Calor del Amor “I never took you for an actor.” “Well, maybe that’s why I never had any success at it.” Cardoza saw that Gabriel was biting his lower lip. “I see. So how long did you try?” “Oh, a year or so.” “Oh, I see. I thought you were in school last year. Let’s see, if you’re really eighteen years old, that would … listen, Gabriel. I know you are lying. You’re really bad at it. You are a bad actor. I don’t know what you’re trying to hide, but if you ever need my help, please let me know.” Silence filled the space between them. Gabriel bit his lip hard, and Cardoza saw a few tears tumble down over his long lashes as he looked down. “Hey! I’m sorry! We’re supposed to be having a good time. I promise, no more nosy questions, is that a deal?” “Yes, sir.” They pulled into a fancy looking restaurant and Gabriel appeared anxious. Cardoza saw him glance down at his jeans and wince. “Is it okay for me to come in here looking like this?” “You’re with me. These guys know me, so stop worrying.” “Detective Cardoza, I mean Alejandro, I’m sorry I told some lies. I just don’t know who to trust anymore. So far, ever since mom died, I 113

K. B. Forrest really feel alone.” “I understand.” And as Gabriel looked into his eyes, Cardoza thought he really meant it. The waiter came by just then, and gave Alejandro a glance he hoped Gabriel didn’t see. He set Gabriel’s glass in front of him with a napkin wrapped around his hand. Alejandro looked away from Gabriel when the waiter left. “I didn’t think so at first, but I do feel like I can trust you, Detective, I mean, Alejandro. Um … I remember once I went out with my mom and dad to this restaurant; it wasn’t this fancy, but we were dressed up. So my dad is just so gross, and he eats like a slob, so my mom looks at me and whispers, ‘jibaro del campo,’ under her breath.” Cardoza burst out laughing, causing a few stares from those around them. “My mom says that too. ‘Hillbilly, huh,’ that’s funny.” Gabriel laughed with him. The waiter came by and nodded to Cardoza as he smoothly spirited Gabriel’s wineglass away with a towel over his hand. **** Gabriel seemed sad after the evening was over and they were driving back. For Cardoza, it seemed like the evening had gone by too fast. He 114

Calor del Amor parked the car in front of the apartment with sigh. “We have to do this again, Gabriel.” “I had the funnest time!” “Um, funnest isn’t a word, but yes, I also had the funnest time!” Cardoza laughed with him. Gabriel blushed deeply. “Um … want to come in? We can get some coffee … um … maybe that teabag.” Cardoza was delighted. “Yes, I was really thinking about that teabag — that we really have to use it before it gets much older.” He felt intoxicated, not by the wine, but by the angel Gabriel’s shy voice and blushing face. They entered the apartment. Cardoza leaned closer to him. Gabriel met his eyes and involuntarily his lips parted with an unspoken invitation. Cardoza’s lips met his in a gentle kiss that quickly became more passionate. Gabriel’s hands slipped under his blazer and he ran his hands down his hard muscles as Cardoza trailed a line of kisses down to the hollow of his throat. “Gabriel, you’d better stop me,” he said raggedly, but Gabriel only moaned in response. Cardoza slipped his arm under Gabriel’s knees and lifted him to the bed. He pulled up on the tshirt and saw that his entire body seemed to be blushing, but that only made the dark bruises stand out more. The young angel kept his eyes shut as he trembled all over. Cardoza slipped off 115

K. B. Forrest his jacket, carefully placing his shoulder-strapped weapon under it. He loosened his tie as he tenderly tasted Gabriel’s face. Cardoza’s body was taking control, but his soul hesitated. He didn’t know where to go with this, but he saw that Gabriel’s jeans were tented with his own desire. “I … I never was with another … I mean I never, you know, did it with anybody,” Gabriel said in a shaky voice. “I’m a little scared.” “We’ll only do what you feel comfortable with. You can tell me to stop whenever you want, okay?” “Okay, but I’m scared, I really am! It will hurt, I know it will!” “Open your eyes and look at me!” Cardoza lifted Gabriel’s chin. It took a moment, but those large, frightened eyes looked back at him. “I won’t hurt you. We don’t have to go all the way if you don’t want to, okay?” Gabriel nodded yes. Cardoza hated himself for doing it, but he had put some lube in his pocket before leaving home. He hated himself for being so cunning. He pulled Gabriel’s shirt off, and removed his own. When he went to open Gabriel’s jeans, the kid’s hand shot down and stopped him. He removed his own pants and lay naked against Gabriel, who shut his eyes in shyness. “Could we at least turn off the light? I’m kind 116

Calor del Amor of shy.” Cardoza complied, and he was surprised when he heard the zipper of Gabriel’s jeans opening. He didn’t remove them, but that was alright, Cardoza felt his hot nakedness against his own. Cardoza worked tenderly, kissing Gabriel deeply and holding his trembling body against his firmly. He gently pulled the jeans lower and touched that smooth body. He covered him with hot kisses and pinched his nipples so that Gabriel jerked, but didn’t pull away. Again and again he drank of the nectar of Gabriel’s soft mouth, and their bodies rubbed together until it seemed unbearable. Suddenly Gabriel gasped and jerked like a marionette in Cardoza’s arms. He had come quickly. It was inevitable, considering it was his first time with anyone. Cardoza stroked him and comforted him. He could see tears on Gabriel’s cherubic cheeks. He lapped them softly and licked his eyes until Gabriel pulled away a little. “I’m sorry, I got you all grossed out!” Gabriel’s cheeks blazed with embarrassment. “No! You’re supposed to do that, silly! It’s not at all gross to me!” “Um … I feel icky.” Gabriel looked down at himself and grimaced. “Don’t worry, just stay there.” Cardoza pushed him down again. He pulled off Gabriel’s jeans and 117

K. B. Forrest underwear. “Ack! I’m naked!” “That’s okay, I am too!” Cardoza ached with pent up desire, but he had to control himself. “Just stay put!” He ran to the bathroom and ran warm water over a small hand towel he found there. He returned and carefully washed the cum from Gabriel’s body, marveling at how the young man was getting hard again. “Unh … nn.” Gabriel moaned and closed his eyes again. “I’m not used to getting touched!” “Does that feel better now?” “Yeah. Better.” “Gabriel, I’m sort of hard still, is it alright if I stay with you a bit longer?” Gabriel nodded yes. “Can I touch it?” Gabriel looked down at Cardoza’s cock, which had been swollen with desire for so long that it seemed to want to stay like that permanently. “Yes, please.” Cardoza felt the soft hand encircle him. Soft, warm breath fell on his shoulder. Gabriel moved closer and Cardoza felt his legs being stroked slightly with the boy’s feet. “You can be rough with me. I can take it,” Cardoza managed to say. The hand took him more forcefully and he moaned in ecstasy. It let go of him suddenly, and then Cardoza felt the boy’s body rubbing against 118

Calor del Amor him. Cardoza was wild with need now and nothing could quell his desires, but to be inside that cherry blossom. He reached down to the jacket on the floor and pulled out the lube. He quickly wiped some on his cock and then put some on his hand. Pulling Gabriel close, he wrapped his arms around him, but one hand inched down and spread Gabriel’s soft cheeks. Cardoza heard him moan. He rubbed the lube between his fingers and massaged the tight, but delicate spot he sought. Gabriel jumped in his arms, but Cardoza used his other arm to hold him close. He sealed Gabriel’s lips in his passionate kiss, while he continued to apply gentle pressure to the unyielding spot, all the while their bodies ground against each other in passion. Cardoza finally found his way in and felt the tight band of muscles encircle his finger. He was unable to hold back, although everything in him said that he must. Gabriel wasn’t ready. It would take a lot more work. He couldn’t explain that to his wayward dick. His finger slipped out and his swollen cock tried to attempt the impossible, pushing where it had not yet been invited. The spot he sought was soft, but unyielding, and Cardoza came violently while pushing against Gabriel’s thigh. He was vaguely aware of Gabriel’s coming too, as he shook and gasped in his arms. 119

K. B. Forrest They lay silently for a long time. “Are you okay?” “Yeah. I’m fine. I can’t believe I actually made love for the first time,” Gabriel said innocently. “It only hurt a little.” Cardoza smiled. “We only just started, but you were great, really.” “But now I feel really gross. I’m going to take a shower like forever!” “I hope I didn’t gross you out though,” Cardoza said, disappointed. “No, it’s just, you know, the stuff that came out of our things. It’s pretty gross.” “I’ll clean it up.” Cardoza got up on shaky legs to heat up the towel and wipe them both off. When he was done, he noticed the kid’s eyes drooping. He kissed him on the forehead and gently covered him with the sheet. Gabriel was breathing softly with his lips parted slightly. Cardoza was tossed into the ocean of his desire again, but he knew it had been enough for that night. More than enough! He had his hand on the doorknob as he gazed upon the body he’d totally fallen for. He knew his angel Gabriel was weak and vulnerable. He couldn’t imagine that boy-man being a creature of cunning. If he was associated with la Gata Negra, she must be taking advantage of him. The kid had never made love before; of this, Cardoza was sure. 120

Calor del Amor He had never even kissed, and he was already eighteen! By that age, many of the punks he arrested were fathers several times over. He wanted to protect the boy. He wanted to love him forever, but was this love doomed? He felt treacherous as he sped back to restaurant to retrieve the glass with the fingerprints. All of his earlier suspicions of Gabriel seemed silly and circumstantial now. His mind kept replaying their awkward lovemaking.

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abriel felt his body floating pleasantly. He saw his lover, Alejandro, sitting under a beautiful apple tree. He was beckoning to Gabriel to join him. They came together as if they were floating, taking each other’s hands, and drawing closer. He closed his eyes as they kissed, but suddenly he was wrenched away. Cardoza was falling away, his arms outstretched in supplication, calling him. Gabriel screamed, but a monster with the face of his father grabbed him and began shaking him by the throat. Jake’s thick, hairy fingers dug into his soft flesh and Gabriel could see the look of hatred in the man’s red eyes. He started to cry out when they tightened and his cry was choked off. Gabriel came awake to a real nightmare. In the dim light, he saw a furious man looking into his eyes. The man’s dark eyes were like furious burning coals that were painful to look into. Gabriel wondered if these were the precious, last few minutes of his life. He made choking noises and the man loosened his grip slightly. 122

Calor del Amor “Where is your bitch? Where is that evil woman? Tell me, or I’ll kill you now!” Gabriel shook his head. “No! I don’t know who you’re talking about!” The man tightened his grip again. “I should have known you’d never give her up! I’ll kill you instead, although she won’t even care; do you hear? I have thought about how to do this. I was going to kill you as you slept. I was going to slice you up and cut out your tongue so that you could bleed to death, but that would be too easy on you.” The man spat in Gabriel’s face. “No! I wanted you to die only after knowing that you are dying for your crimes — for what you and your bitch did to my sister! When you go to Hell to burn for eternity, you will have this fresh on your mind. The devils there will read what is in your soul and punish you.” The man growled his words in a thick Spanish accent. Gabriel tried to give voice to his terror, but only a soft whine was able to escape from his throat. He tried to shake his head — to make this man understand that he had done nothing to his sister, or to anyone else for that matter. “You two promised her a good job, a beautiful house in America, money and a Green Card; but instead, she is back home rotting in poverty. You stole her baby and she got nothing but shame. Even her mother calls her puta, but it is your bitch 123

K. B. Forrest who is a puta! You are the lowest creature in the world! You two have ruined her, and she now wanders around the house unable to think. She has become mad and she asks everyone she meets to return her baby. You might as well have killed her by taking her baby and then by taking her hope! You will die like the dirty whoremonger you are!” Gabriel felt a knife pressing against his neck and suddenly he brought up his knee hard into the man’s groin. He dropped the knife and howled in pain as he clutched his injured parts. Gabriel sputtered and gasped, but the man recovered in an instant and scrambled for his knife. Gabriel ran past him, but he blocked the exit door. Gabriel ran into the living room with the man close at his heels. He threw one of the rickety chairs into his path and the man tripped. Gabriel’s cries for help were punctuated by the man’s animal grunts as he swung the knife, slashing through the air so that Gabriel felt it close to him. Suddenly, a tremendous bang shook the outside door. Both Gabriel and the man stopped their frantic chase for a moment, and then another blow to the door shook the apartment. A deep bellow of rage made Gabriel cringe as another crash fragmented the upper panel of the door. The man scrambled for the window he had come in through. It was still wide open and he 124

Calor del Amor exited feet first. Gabriel ran to the door, grabbing a sheet to cover his nakedness. He opened it just as Dottie was swinging her heavy bat again. When she saw it was Gabriel, the large woman dropped the bat. “What is it with you anyway?” Dottie’s ample bosom rose and fell as she panted. “Jimmy’s gonna have to pay for this damage, don’t cha know. So now someone is killing you? What in the world do you have goin,’ kid?” Gabriel was gasping for breath, and couldn’t answer. “Gotta call those worthless donut-eating cops again; just a minute, sweetie. Come on with me — oh hell, get dressed! I’ll wait. Don’t want to came back and find you dead or nothin’!” Dottie’s voice was roughened by her bellows of rage. “Thank you, Dottie; you saved my life! There was a crazy guy; he tried to kill me with a knife!” Gabriel threw his clothes on with shaky hands. “Don’t worry, dear, nobody’s gonna get you now.” Dottie led him up to her apartment by the arm and didn’t let him go even when she reached for the phone. Gabriel was too numbed to try to stop her. He had no idea what that man was talking about, but he was sure that it had been a case of mistaken identity.

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Chapter Fifteen

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abriel sat on the stoop with Dottie, waiting for the police to arrive. A slightly overweight man with thinning blonde hair approached and Dottie stood up. “Who are you, Buster? We called for the cops, not for the powder puff club!” The detective bared his teeth in anger and Dottie looked at him in disgust. “I’m Detective Kelly.” “Where’s the dark one? What’s his name, dearie?” Dottie called out behind her to Gabriel. The man seemed to pale as he saw him. “His name is Cardoza. Detective Cardoza.” Gabriel answered, but he wished Cardoza would hurry and come! “Yeah, Cartosa,” she said, mispronouncing the name. He’s the good-looking dark one. He’s the one we want to see, not you. Are you new?” The detective looked angry, and he pushed past her and called for back up and a crime unit van. 126

Calor del Amor “Stay out here!” Kelly ordered them as he pulled on gloves. He closed the door behind him and Gabriel wondered what he should do. The backup people arrived with the crime scene van, and Kelly started barking out orders to them when Cardoza shoved past them looking bewildered and anxious. “What are you doing here, Cardoza? This is my case.” “What?” Cardoza glanced behind him and didn’t argue. “What’s going on?” His eyes were reddened with rage. “Probably breaking and entering, but the kid who lives here claims that some man tried to kill him. I haven’t finished my interrogation, so buzz off.” Gabriel entered the room and reached for Cardoza, but he just stood there staring at him and shook his head as if to warn him, but Gabriel spoke up. “It was a man. He was saying something about his sister. He claimed that I took her baby, but I’ve never seen him before. I don’t have anyone’s baby!” Kelly suddenly pointed to the laptop computer and yelled over to Gabriel, “What do you have on this?” Gabriel and Cardoza began to approach, and Kelly pulled out a notebook from under the 127

K. B. Forrest computer. He scanned its contents and raised an eyebrow. “Take a look at this, Cardoza!” “That’s not mine! Maybe the man left it.” Gabriel knew he’d never seen it before. Why was it under his computer? Cardoza’s face darkened and he glared at Gabriel. Kelly grabbed the book and handed it to Gabriel, so he took it and leafed through a few pages. It looked like some kind of ledger with names and dates. “What is this all about? Who is Baby Rodriguez, and Baby Molino, etc. and what are these dates?” Kelly shook it in his face, and Gabriel stuttered. “Print this apartment! And grab that computer too.” Cardoza turned angrily and left the room. “But Alejandro!” Gabriel called after him.

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ardoza sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. The hateful notebook was in an evidence bag on his desk. The prints that the technicians had been able to lift were all Gabriel’s and some were his, but there were suspiciously few of Gabriel’s prints. It bothered him, but he was suspicious of his own mind now. His mind had been taken in by Gabriel. Who could he trust? Cardoza didn’t want to start making excuses for him just because he haunted his every waking moment. The computer had only one file on it. It was an awkward story Gabriel was writing. Cardoza had to read it to see if it had any hidden information, but he felt like a sneak, peering into the thoughts of that innocent soul. He scrolled back to the scene he liked best. It was about a girl masturbating. What was in that kid’s head? He imagined that masturbating was the extent of Gabriel’s sexual experiences, until now, that is. He began to read it again, thinking that maybe the kid really had 129

K. B. Forrest some talent. She played with the edge of her panty and thought of Kazuki and his feel. She imagined him now, coming close to her and pressing himself against her urgently. It was so sweet. His firm manhood rubbing against her panty and making her nearly explode with pleasure. She spread her legs and felt the pulsing there. He would now be frantic for her, ripping at her panties and they would come down past her knees. Her body arched as she imagined him entering her and she used her fingers to stimulate herself. Silently she thrashed against the mattress, the sensation like nothing she had felt before. It was nothing like what she had imagined when she was a girl of thirteen. She paused, breathless, but she didn’t withdraw her fingers. They felt along and pressed that sensitive spot until she thrashed again, almost giving voice to her passion. Cardoza felt perspiration drip down his collar. The kid was trying to imagine what it would feel like for a girl. He gulped. His cock was stiff again. It was driving him crazy. There were other scenes too. When the two main characters, both men, hesitantly touch … He closed down the computer. It was distracting him to no end. What was this kid? Was he some sort of criminal, or an incredibly naïve kid? He tried to run Gabriel’s prints through the computer one more time. He had obviously made some kind of mistake the first time. When the 130

Calor del Amor results showed up again, the same thing happened, no matches found. He shook his head. The kid was apparently clean, but was his girlfriend, la Gata Negra clean? Finally, he glanced at his watch. He wanted this to be a last resort, but he decided he’d have to put the squeeze on Sassounian to get information on Gabriel or the woman. The information in the notebook was all so cryptic that it was totally useless. And so far, the evidence he had gathered was circumstantial. Either la Gata Negra was impossibly clever, or … or what? What did Gabriel have to do with her and her baby-selling scheme? What was Gabriel doing with her ledger if he didn’t have anything to do with her? Either way, the old Armenian would be able to tell him the truth. **** What was left of the night passed in a blur for Gabriel. He could not escape the fear that had descended upon him after such a close brush with death. If it hadn’t been for Dottie … Gabriel didn’t want to think about that possibility. That and the disturbing change in Alejandro, kept Gabriel awake all night. What was with him? Now in addition to his coldness, Alejandro had looked at him with real fury! After having made love just a few hours before, 131

K. B. Forrest Alejandro hated him! The world sucks! He was probably just using me, and laughing about it with his friends! Gabriel didn’t understand, but he decided he needed to go to work or else he’d be thinking about it all day. He locked the ruined door to his apartment, wondering why he even bothered. He felt haggard and worn out. “You know what, honey?” Dottie called down to him as he headed out the door. “I’ve learned a lot from you so far. I’ve learned never to accept a tenant without asking for recommendations. That’s the secret. Barbara told me about that at the hair salon yesterday. Could have saved myself a big headache, I could have.” Gabriel smiled weakly and waved. He headed out the door without responding any more than that, because he couldn’t summon the energy. Outside of the apartment, yellow crime scene tape hung loosely and although he tried to look straight ahead of him, from the corner of his eye, he saw a squad car, and its occupants were staring at him. If he was supposed to stay there for questioning, they never mentioned it. Why hadn’t they asked him to go to the station? Detective Kelly had been there for a long time after Cardoza left, and he said that he was all done. Why hadn’t Kelly asked him to identify his attacker through photos or whatever they did? It 132

Calor del Amor seemed like the police didn’t care — but of course, if it had been set up by them — if they were working with his dad; it made sense. He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself as he headed for the subway. During the trip to work, all he thought about was Cardoza and why all the strange things were happening to him. It didn’t seem fair that things should be so difficult for him. Now he had to wonder if he should tell Mr. Sassounian that the cops had confiscated his computer. How can life suck this much? All he wanted was a chance at life. **** When he arrived at work, the scent of coffee greeted him at the door. He grabbed a cookie and was in the process of devouring it when Mr. Sassounian walked out of his office with a big smile. “There is much work for today! Did you sleep well, Gabriel? You look disturbed.” Gabriel sighed. He wasn’t sure how much to tell Mr. Sassounian. “You did not get robbed again, did you?” Mr. Sassounian had real concern in his voice. Gabriel found himself telling him about last night and the attempt on his life. He didn’t mention going out with Cardoza; that was too 133

K. B. Forrest confusing, even for himself. “I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I’m sorry for burdening you like this, Mr. Sassounian. It seems like I’m nothing but trouble.” Mr. Sassounian looked grave and pale. “This is very serious, Gabriel. Tell me, did anything like this ever happen before you started work here?” Gabriel shook his head. “No, but this couldn’t have anything to do with you.” He couldn’t tell him about Jake; he never wanted anyone to know, but Mr. Sassounian looked so concerned. “I think I should call up my nephew until this settles down. He’s a big strong man. If there’s someone after you, he’ll protect you. I think I know what this is all about. Let me make a few telephone calls.” Gabriel tried to tell him there was no way he could have anything to do with his problems, but he turned and closed the door to his office. Before long, Mr. Sassounian was talking in Armenian on the phone. He made calls all morning. Gabriel wondered why Mr. Sassounian would think he had anything to do with the break-ins. By noon, Gabriel started to doze at his desk. He started awake when his door opened. Mr. Sassounian was smiling. “I have solved the problem, Gabriel! You have no need to worry anymore. Now we will celebrate with some food from the deli. You didn’t bring any lunch did 134

Calor del Amor you?” Gabriel shook his head. “Good! Here, take this,” he said, handing Gabriel some cash. “Buy us both some sandwiches. We will eat together. It is a happy day.” Gabriel took the money and returned Mr. Sassounian’s smile, although he didn’t for a minute believe that his problems were over. He would play along to make the old guy happy. “Yes, we’ll make this into a happy day. I’ll be back as quickly as I can!” He knew where the deli was and he gave Mr. Sassounian a cheerful wave as he headed out the door. **** “Mr. Sassounian? Open up, police!” Cardoza had seen Gabriel leave. It was time to question the old man. “Open up, I know you’re in there!” “Give an old man a moment.” “I’m Detective Cardoza. I’d like you to come with me to answer a few questions.” The door opened and Mr. Sassounian seemed to swallow hard. “Son, I’m a very old man. I don’t like to leave my house unless I have to.” “Would you like me to draw up a warrant for 135

K. B. Forrest your arrest?” Cardoza’s words were clipped and angry and he allowed a small grin to play on his face when Mr. Sassounian started at his words. “Perhaps I should come back with it. I was hoping to get some information out of you in exchange for keeping this a little less formal, but if you don’t want me to …” “There is no need. I will come with you.” Mr. Sassounian followed Cardoza to an unmarked squad car and got in. Cardoza gave him a hard stare. Mr. Sassounian put hands that shook with fear to his heart as he sat waiting. “I want some information from you. Now you can make this hard or you can make this easy, what’s it going to be?” “I am willing to cooperate.” “Good. Let’s start with a few preliminaries, how long have you known Mr. Palacios?” “I just met him a few days ago. He told me he’s new in town, but I think he’s lived here before as a child.” “A few days?” I’m asking you to tell me the truth, Sassounian. Like I said, this can be very easy or very hard, it all depends on you.” “I tell you no lie!” “Listen, I know your game. I know you’ve been laundering money for the Armenian Liberation Front and that you’ve been trafficking Chinese 136

Calor del Amor weaponry to Armenia for the same cause. I could bust your son, your grandson, your two nephews, and your three brother-in-laws. I could even bring in your wife. Now you answer my questions and you tell me everything!” Sweat broke out on Mr. Sassounian’s face. “I want to know everything there is to know about Gabriel Palacios.” “I told you the truth. I swear on the Armenian Cross, on the Blood of Jesus, I only met Gabriel a few days ago.” “Then why did you give him a television and a laptop?” “He was robbed, what else could I do?” Cardoza narrowed his eyes at him. “What is he doing working for you?” “He’s my delivery-boy! I hire him to carry packages and do odd jobs; that is all.” “You don’t seem to understand me, Sassounian. When I said tell me the truth, I meant tell me the real truth or I swear I’ll drag your entire family down. All it takes is a phone call.” “I tell you, I am telling the truth! No Armenian swears on the cross if he is lying.” There was a warble in the old man’s voice, but Cardoza still stared at Mr. Sassounian for a long time. “So you mean to tell me you hired Mr. Palacios a few days ago as your delivery-boy?” “Yes.” 137

K. B. Forrest “Then at least go inside and get me his employment papers. I want his Social Security number and any other information he gave you. If you hold back on me, don’t think I won’t carry out my word.” Mr. Sassounian got out of the car. He seemed to have to steady himself against the side of the vehicle as he stood. Soon he reappeared with a few papers. Cardoza snatched them from Mr. Sassounian’s hands and leafed through the two pages. “This is all?” “Yes.” “My name is Detective Cardoza, and I’ll be back here, Sassounian, whether this information pans out or not.” “Please, Mr. Cardosian. You are an Armenian … Think of what you are doing to our people!” Cardoza didn’t know what he was talking about, but he pulled the car away from the curb before he could finish, and Mr. Sassounian turned back to go inside. **** Gabriel rose to his feet as Mr. Sassounian came back in looking even paler than he did when he first came in. “Is everything okay?” 138

Calor del Amor Sassounian gave him a weak smile and nodded. “It’s just fine. Don’t you worry.” But Gabriel found himself worrying as they ate in relative silence. Mr. Sassounian went into his office after lunch and Gabriel hunkered down over the files he’d been given. Around three o’clock the door opened slowly. “Gabriel?” Gabriel rose when he saw how pale he was. His voice was weak as he tried to speak to him again. “Gabriel, I don’t believe I can work all day today. I think … I think I’ll go home now.” “Oh no! I hope it’s nothing serious!” Sassounian reached out to steady himself against the desk, but his knees buckled and his body collapsed to the floor. “Oh no!” Gabriel rushed over. “Oh no!” Mr. Sassounian’s face was grey and he was unconscious. Gabriel rolled him onto his side and then rushed to the telephone. The operator came on. “Hello, you’ve reached nine-one-one.” “Yes, hello, I need help right away! My boss just collapsed onto the floor. I don’t know what’s wrong with him! Maybe it’s a heart attack or something, he’s old.” “What’s your address please?” Gabriel’s mind went blank; he hadn’t been working there long enough to have memorized it. 139

K. B. Forrest He ran into Mr. Sassounian’s office and grabbed the first envelope he saw with the address. He read it to the operator and shoved the letter into his pocket. “We’ll be there shortly. Is there anything else you can tell us about the nature of his condition?” “I don’t know! I don’t know!” He could see the lower half of Mr. Sassounian’s body from where he stood. “Oh God, what if he’s dead! Tell them to hurry!” “We’ll be on our way, sir. Make sure he’s lying on his side so his air passages are clear.” “Okay, okay, thank you, bye.” Gabriel hung up even as the voice was trying to urge him to stay on the line. He knelt before Mr. Sassounian. He tried to remember any first aid training he had received, but his mind was blank. What if his inaction was killing his poor boss? He strained to hear any sirens, but for now, it was only him and Mr. Sassounian. In the distance, he finally heard the wail of sirens. Gabriel ran out of the office began to wave his arms when he saw the white and red ambulance coming. The wailing vehicle pulled to a stop and the paramedics rushed out. “In there!” Gabriel pointed to the open door. He hung back as they swarmed over Sassounian’s body. They talked furiously among each other as they loaded him onto a stretcher. One of them said 140

Calor del Amor something about nitroglycerin, and Gabriel knew his suspicions were right. He’d had a heart attack. Gabriel went back inside and tore through Mr. Sassounian’s things until he found his home phone number. “Hello?” It was an old lady with a thick accent like Mr. Sassounian’s. “Hello? Is this Mr. Sassounian’s wife?” “Yes, is something wrong?” “I work for Mr. Sassounian; I’m calling to tell you he isn’t feeling well. He’s … well, he had to go to the hospital.” Gabriel heard a gasp and then silence. There were cries in Armenian, and finally a male voice took the phone and Gabriel gave him all the information he had. There was nothing else to do but go home. He felt a chill as he shut the lights off and looked around the dark office.

141

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Chapter Seventeen

C

ardoza tried to put Gabriel’s face out of his mind as he worked. He tried not to remember his innocent, yet somehow sensuous voice and his soft touch. With Sassounian’s information, he now had Gabriel’s social security number, and that would reveal a lot if it was real. His birth date revealed that he hadn’t lied about his age, but he had no record; not even a traffic ticket attached to his Ohio driver’s license. Seems too clean. Finally, Cardoza picked up the phone and called the Cleveland Police Department. He was concerned about leaking anything that might alert Gabriel’s father, who he found out, was a police officer there, so he asked to speak with a detective. Detective Laura DiPalma took his call and they introduced each other. “I have a few questions about an Officer Connerly.” There was a pause. “Is there some problem?” “No, what makes you think so?” 142

Calor del Amor “Nothing. What do you want to know?” “Does Officer Connerly have a son?” “Yes, he does; his name is Gabriel. I’ve only met him a few times at police social events. Has something happened to him?” Cardoza was mystified. “Do you know something you’re not mentioning?” “Well, unless it’s a criminal matter, it’s none of my business, or yours.” Cardoza cleared his throat nervously. “Yes, it may be a criminal matter, Detective DiPalma, and I would appreciate your full cooperation.” Another pause and Detective DiPalma sighed. “I do hope Gabriel is okay. He’s a sweet young man. Less than a week ago, I answered a call at the Connerly residence. A neighbor had called in a complaint that someone was making crashing noises. When I got there, Officer Connerly was in the process of trashing his apartment because his son had left home. He was furious, and to tell you the truth, he almost attacked me.” Cardoza could hear her voice becoming harder. “He told me that his son ran away, but it was because he was a drug dealer. He even produced a bag of cocaine. Personally, I don’t buy his story, but I’m not at liberty to discuss the matter. It is being handled by Internal Affairs. I think the Connerly kid is in real danger.” “So you don’t believe the story about the 143

K. B. Forrest drugs? Let me ask you this, Detective DiPalma: Does the kid have a girlfriend? Maybe an older woman?” “What a joke. His father made sure everybody found out that Gabriel is gay. He’s never even had a boyfriend! Poor Gabriel is such a shy thing, and Connerly has an iron grip on him. Word is that he is abusive and positively ugly with him. I heard that Gabriel’s mother came from a poor family and that he never missed a chance to remind her of it, especially in public. She died in a suspicious accident, and it left Gabriel a wreck. I wonder if the poor thing is doing well.” “He’s okay.” “Fine. I’ve told you everything that I know, except for the fact that Officer Connerly has just been granted a two week vacation. Now it’s time for you to talk, Detective Cardoza. Remember, I’m a detective too.” Cardoza hesitated, but he had no right to hold back. “This information has got to stay with you; is that understood?” “Yes.” “I’m investigating Gabriel Connerly; who now calls himself Gabriel Palacios, for his possible involvement in a black market baby-selling scheme.” He heard Detective DiPalma suck in her breath, and then laugh. “Impossible! Are you serious?” 144

Calor del Amor “Well you should know better than to say that! How many times …” “Wait … what if he’s doing this for his father? I could see him doing such a thing; in fact, Internal Affairs is investigating …” “What?” Cardoza’s interest was piqued. “Listen, we better discuss this all in person. I really have to check this out, and it does involve us now, so don’t argue.” “No argument here.” Cardoza felt nervous about the turn this was taking. “Listen, find out if Gabriel’s father is still in town. Last night the kid was attacked. He said it was a man he’d never seen before, but what if it was his father? There is a chance that if they are both involved, then Connerly might have tried to kill Gabriel for double-crossing him. It seemed too neat that Gabriel was attacked by a man with a knife and he survived without a scratch. We found some evidence to link him to the black market babies too.” He heard Detective DiPalma whistle through her teeth. “I still can’t picture sweet Gabriel doing any of those things, but you’re right, Detective Cardoza. As a detective, I’ve seen stranger things than that. I’ll check to see if I can find Officer Connerly, and then take the next flight out, but I still think that Jake has to be abusing his son somehow, and perhaps using the child to commit 145

K. B. Forrest crimes.” Cardoza put the phone down. Detective DiPalma might be just the one who he needed to help him sort this all out. He knew he was working against a powerful obstacle — his heart. No matter how careful his investigation, he felt sure that he might deceive himself. It wasn’t easy to see straight when your body and mind wanted something so badly. He had made some bad choices, but this was his worst. And even in the face of such damning evidence, his mind perversely sought Gabriel out. It must be that Gabriel’s father was forcing him to do those awful things! But who was la Gata Negra, and how was she involved? Was she the one who actually dealt with the pregnant girls? Surely since they were all Hispanics, Connerly needed someone to communicate with them. Cardoza felt that Gabriel had been taken from him because of this sordid affair. How could he ever trust in love again after this?

146

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Chapter Eighteen

G

abriel called Alejandro. He was still afraid of him, but he just had to have someone to talk with. The horrible scene with Mr. Sassounian wouldn’t go away. He wished someone could love him. He desperately wanted to be held. Alejandro said he’d be there soon, so he sat and waited. When the knock finally came, Gabriel rushed to the door and into Cardoza’s arms. He began to cry, and found that there was no way to stop himself. Alejandro lifted him and set him on the bed. Gabriel cuddled close and cried. He couldn’t speak. His misery was so great, that nothing came out of his mouth but sobs. Alejandro held him close. Gabriel smelled his spicy scent and rubbed his face into his broad chest as his sobs came in spasms. He opened his mouth to speak, but Alejandro put a finger to his lips, and then took them into a melting kiss that went on until the sobs died down. They kissed deeply, and Gabriel felt the horror 147

K. B. Forrest of his predicament floating far away. He remembered his dream, and held Alejandro close, so close as they rubbed their bodies together. Alejandro unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. Gabriel felt his jeans unzip. Alejandro moved them apart for a moment, but their cocks still touched. Gabriel gasped as Alejandro pulled back his foreskin, and then did the same to himself. He pulled his skin over both of their cocks and held them with one big hand. They began to rub the heads of their cocks together. Gabriel had never felt such a powerful sensation. It sent shockwaves of pleasure through him as he held onto Alejandro’s chest. He cried out as the shuddering reaction caused him to buck in Alejandro’s arms. They stayed in each other’s arms for what seemed like hours to Gabriel. Finally, Alejandro got up and undressed Gabriel. He washed him gently as he lay in bed, and then pulled up the covers. He began to hum softly and Gabriel felt himself falling asleep. He was too tired. He wanted to talk to Alejandro, to tell him all that had happened, but the door shut softly, and he was gone. **** The hospital was depressing for Gabriel. He wanted to stay in bed after Alejandro left, but he 148

Calor del Amor couldn’t forget his friend, Mr. Sassounian. He walked up to the front desk and the nurse there continued working on her computer for a long time. “Patients sign in at the first desk to the left.” Barely looking up, she motioned to the place. “I’m here to visit a friend.” “Are you on the list?” “I’m not sure. I asked his wife if I could come and …” “Sit and fill these forms.” The nurse handed him a clipboard and turned back to her work. As Gabriel sat, he began thinking about how he had already become used to the routine of going to work and he had come to value Mr. Sassounian’s companionship, even after a few days. He thought that he’d be lost now without him in the face of all of his troubles. After some time, he was directed to Mr. Sassounian’s room. “Gabriel!” Mrs. Sassounian looked as if she’d been waiting. “He just got moved from the intensive care! He is a little better. So glad you came. He has been asking about you.” There were five other people, all Armenians, in the small room. Mr. Sassounian looked up weakly and motioned for his wife to come. He whispered something to her and she shooed everyone but Gabriel from the room. 149

K. B. Forrest Gabriel approached the bed and he motioned him to come closer. “My grandson says you keep the computer.” He smiled weakly. “I’m sorry I must tell you this, but I cannot have you work for me any longer.” Gabriel was touched by his kindness, yet so stricken by his words, that he had to fight desperate tears. “I … what did I do?” “No, no.” A tear dripped from the old man’s eye. He looked very weak and Gabriel knew how much this was taking its toll on him. “A police came when you went out for our lunch. I don’t remember his name, but it may have been Cardosian. He looked to be Armenian; he was dark like us, but he was an evil man with no love for the homeland, which is like mother to us! I tried to make him understand, but he suspected you of something just because you work for me. I don’t want you to be in that kind of trouble on my account. You are a nice boy. Find a better job.” Gabriel felt his face drain. He knew now what had happened, but how could Alejandro do such a thing? How could he be so cruel, and then come to take advantage of him again? He knew he had to get to the bathroom. He was going to vomit. He just couldn’t take it anymore, and to think, not only had Cardoza caused Mr. Sassounian’s heart 150

Calor del Amor attack, but he had lied, telling him that he was Armenian! That must have been a terrible blow for the old man! Gabriel gently squeezed the withered hand he held. “I’ll be back to visit later. Don’t worry about that man, Cardoza. I will take care of him. He had no right to bother you, but get some rest for now.” Mr. Sassounian’s eyes were already closing and Gabriel got up and slipped past the relatives. He would have a talk with that hateful devil Cardoza. How could he do that to a poor old man, and what was he after? What did he suspect him of doing and what did he hope to prove? Cardoza had only been using his charms on him. He hadn’t cared for him at all! Cardoza just wanted to milk some information out of him, so he turned to seduction. How could he live with himself! How could anyone use a person like that? And it was my first time! Thanks to Cardoza, I’ll never trust in love again.

151

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Chapter Nineteen

C

ardoza watched the people leaving the flight Detective DiPalma was supposed to be on, and he wondered why he hadn’t thought to ask her what she’d be wearing or what she looked like. None of the women so far looked like cops, so he continued to crane his neck and search as the last few people exited. “Detective Cardoza?” The attractive woman he had taken to be a businesswoman stood before him. “Detective DiPalma.” He extended his hand. “So pleased to meet you.” Cardoza thought she was exceptionally beautiful and seemed very intelligent. Well, she’d have to be to have reached the detective level. He knew that while a clown like Kelly could make detective, a woman would have to be ten times better to reach the same goal. He respected her for that. “Please call me Laura, we don’t need to be so formal.” 152

Calor del Amor “Okay, Laura, and I’m Alejandro. What was the information you wanted to give me?” “Whoa! You don’t waste any time, do you, Alejandro!” “Sorry. We’ll talk on the way back. I suggest that we avoid the station. I have all the information we need on my laptop computer and on hardcopy. I just don’t want word to get out that you’re here. Someone might tip off Connerly.” “Good idea.” They found his car and started back toward the city. Cardoza noticed her studying him. “So, about the Internal Affairs investigation?” “Right. Connerly is being investigated on charges that he’s taking kickbacks from drug dealers in exchange for information on raids and evidence. He’s also suspected of pocketing money, drugs, and guns collected during traffic stops and other calls. He allows the perps their freedom in exchange for his silence and a pay-off.” She paused and dug into her attaché case. “Here is the report that first alerted us to his crimes. Not long ago he made the mistake of taking over two thousand from a poor guy who was on his way to buy a car. The guy had a few pills with him that turned out to be his wife’s migraine medication, so Connerly gives him his schpeal about allowing him to go free after taking his money as payment for a ‘fine.’ Well, it turns 153

K. B. Forrest out that the man was related by marriage to a cop in another precinct, and ever since then, Connerly has been under investigation. Besides this, when Internal Affairs put the squeeze on his partner, the guy ratted him out big time.” Her voice carried a touch of satisfaction that Cardoza didn’t miss. “Connerly isn’t a favorite of yours, I take it?” “You can say that. He’s not a pleasant colleague. Even the male officers think he’s a bully and some are downright afraid of him. There are some stories circulating about his brutality. An awful high percentage of his arrests are made after the suspect “resists arrest,” and ends up in the hospital. So it’s not just a personal thing.” “So you think it’s likely that Connerly is involved in this case? You think he works with his kid, Gabriel?” DiPalma shook her head. “I have to tell you; I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I still can’t see Gabriel acting voluntarily in such criminal activity. Jake Connerly controlled that kid with an iron fist. I, for one, was very happy for him when the kid finally broke loose. I’m concerned, though, because I know Jake will try to find him. He asked for a two-week vacation right after his son left. It was pretty clear what he was planning. I worry about the kid, frankly. I think Gabriel knows something that might incriminate his father. That seems to be Connerly’s motive for pursuing the 154

Calor del Amor kid.” Cardoza rubbed his chin. Could his angel Gabriel be an underling to some brute like Jake Connerly? It didn’t seem likely to him, but he might be cooperating with his father out of fear. “See, Alejandro, I know this is conjecture, but I suspect that Mrs. Connerly, Gabriel’s mother, was killed. I don’t believe it was an accident. Sure, it was impossible to prove, but the whole thing seemed suspicious. Maybe she threatened to tell what she knew about his drug deals, but now that this baby-selling thing has come up, I wonder if she wasn’t involved. It probably was against her will if she did help, because she was a sweet woman, as far as I could tell. But, she was a Hispanic and she would have been the perfect translator for him. She was also terrified of her husband.” “Yeah, she was from New York, wasn’t she? Connerly is from Ohio.” “Jake Connerly is from New York too; that’s where they met. He was a cop in the Bronx before he married Anna Palacios and moved off to Cleveland. I would think that he had the business going before, and he might have even married her so that he could use her as an interpreter.” “Do you think they moved to Cleveland as part of a cover-up?” “Maybe, but I’m almost certain that she wasn’t 155

K. B. Forrest involved voluntarily. So tell me about this baby trafficking scheme, Alejandro.” “We only got to interview one of the teenaged victims, but thanks to a detective in my precinct, one with few brains, she’s dead now.” “God, so there’s a murder too? What happened?” “This idiot cop, Kelly, got her story, well, part of it, since his Spanish is terrible, but then he let her go. She should have been placed in protective custody, but Kelly blew it. The worst part is that she was brutally murdered and her full term baby was removed.” He looked out of the window to hide his watering eyes. “The girl seemed to think that the operation was run by a beautiful Hispanic woman and her young boyfriend. She never mentioned a White guy.” “That doesn’t mean a thing. If you were a cop and knew enough about the system, wouldn’t you keep a low profile? Imagine if we get enough evidence to make a bust, who do you think will take the fall? Yeah, it will be Gabriel. I bet the jerk has allowed all the trails to lead to his son only. He’s using the kid if you ask me, Alejandro.” “Well if that’s the case, why didn’t Gabriel or his mother go to the police?” DiPalma laughed mirthlessly. “Honestly, Cardoza, didn’t you attend your sensitivity seminars? I mean think! His mother was married 156

Calor del Amor to a cop! So do you think she would go to the police? He is the police! You know that more women are killed by so-called loved ones than by strangers! We cops do a piss-poor job of protecting them, even though things are better than they were twenty years ago, when my dad shot my mom right in front of all of his children.” She took in a shuddering breath. “My mother had a restraining order against him, and the cops had been called a dozen times. Do you know who got the job of calling the cops? Yeah, I was the oldest child. When he shot her in the face, I blamed myself for not calling them in time. That’s why I became a cop myself, to help out the women and kids who were ignored before.” Cardoza glanced at her and felt like a fool. He swallowed loudly as she blew her nose and wiped at her eyes. “Sorry, Cardoza. I didn’t mean to preach. But I’m certain that if Gabriel knew anything, he’d be too scared to talk. Just think of it, what if he knows who killed his mother? He was hysterical and nearly psychotic for weeks after it happened. Now you should fill me in on your part of the investigation.” “Well, Gabriel … uh … Mr. Palacios was first brought to my attention when I answered a call to his apartment for a B&E. Mind you, it was his 157

K. B. Forrest landlady who called. Mr. Palacios didn’t want anything to do with the police. To me, it appeared to be an act of revenge rather than breaking and entering. His mattress was slashed, the television was wrecked, but the only thing stolen was a laptop. I assumed that it had valuable information on it concerning the baby deals. There was also a note left on the bed, which stated outright that it was an act of revenge. By the way, I only answered the call because I was staking out the row of apartments where the girl said they operated from.” “Alejandro, Gabriel only left Cleveland a week ago … I’m sorry for interrupting. Please continue.” “I’ll get to that, but my opinion has been that there is some person, or persons, out there who want to harm Mr. Palacios because of his part in this baby-selling scheme. Maybe a brother, or a father of one of the girls. I watched Mr. Palacios after this, and found out that he is working with a Mr. Sassounian, a man known to be associated with the Armenian Liberation Front. These fanatics want to regain their so-called homeland from Turkey. Mr. Sassounian is suspected of smuggling arms and funds to these ‘freedom fighters’ with his import-export business as a front. I don’t know the nature of their relationship, but perhaps Gabriel or his father uses him to get the girls in and out of the country.” 158

Calor del Amor “That would be an odd alliance, wouldn’t it be, Alejandro?” “That’s what I thought, but I recently put the squeeze on Sassounian, but he wouldn’t crack. All he agreed to give me was Mr. Palacios’ work application, and that’s where I got enough information to call you. Another strange thing happened to bolster my suspicion that someone is out for revenge against Gabriel … that is, Mr. Palacios.” Cardoza was trying his best to sound uninvolved, but he cursed himself for stuttering every time he mentioned Gabriel. It just didn’t seem to work! “Last week I found a homemade wanted poster with his name on it hanging on a telephone pole outside his apartment. Apparently there were more, because when I went to question him, I found a few in his apartment. They read, ‘Wanted for ruining my life.’ Seems petty, but it could be a simple person’s attempt to harass him. Another thing is that I saw a young pregnant woman run out from his apartment building, but I couldn’t stop her for questioning. I know that’s really circumstantial, but it’s still something.” “I see now why you suspect him. Cardoza, this is serious!” “Finally, Mr. Palacios was attacked by a man who tried to kill him. Luckily for him, the landlady was able to break down the door when 159

K. B. Forrest she heard Gabriel call for help. As we were checking the apartment, we found a small ledger book containing entries that strongly suggest his involvement. It contains the names of babies and dates, as well as dates I assumed were those indicating when they were transferred to new homes. Unfortunately, it’s too cryptic to be of any value. As for the rest, I’ve run his prints and we’ve got nothing on him.” “Alejandro, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but do you have anything going with Gabriel? I mean, have you a personal relationship?” Cardoza hoped to God that his dark complexion would cover his deepening blush. “Well … he is a suspect in this case, and that’s all.” DiPalma nodded.

160

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Chapter Twenty

D

etectives Cardoza and DiPalma sat in a drab, unmarked car watching Gabriel’s apartment as they exchanged theories and drank their cold coffee. Suddenly Cardoza sat up and pointed to a man shambling out of an apartment nearby. His tie was askew and he seemed to be adjusting his trousers. “That’s Detective Kelly — the one I was telling you about! What’s he doing here?” Cardoza almost opened the door, but DiPalma grabbed his arm. “I told you he’s trying to crack this one himself! He’s just pissed off that I gave it to him about allowing that girl to go and get herself killed. He’s been wanting to show me up for as long as I’ve known him! And maybe his appearing so soon at Gabriel’s apartment yesterday wasn’t just a fortuitous event!” “He looks a bit drunk.” DiPalma observed the man and nodded. “His legs are definitely 161

K. B. Forrest unsteady.” “Maybe, but the jerk is interfering in my case! I ought to …” “Come on, Alejandro, take it easy. We have to think this over carefully. He might have some information we need, and confronting him this way may make him even more hostile.” “You’re right, Laura. It’s just, I mean, have you ever had to deal with someone who was such a gnat? He’s always trying to make me look bad, but I’ve never done a thing to cause him to hate me!” “I know where you’re coming from. I get that sort of thing from Connerly and his crew. Maybe being a minority and being a woman are closer than we think.” Cardoza nodded. They sat in the car for another hour and were about to leave to get something to eat, when DiPalma noticed a beautiful Hispanic woman in a cute sundress emerging from the apartment building Kelly had left earlier. “Who is that?” Cardoza stared hard at the woman. He had never seen her before, but she was stunning. He made a mental note of it, and of the fact that Kelly had visited that building. There had to be a way of checking up on Kelly. He had to know what was going on!

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Calor del Amor **** The traffic noise from outside filtered into Gabriel’s tiny apartment. Gabriel was seated on his lumpy bed, thinking about Mr. Sassounian and all that had happened in his life to get him to this point. The lone bulb in the overhead light made weird shadows, and he wondered if he’d get around to fixing it before one of the many people who wanted him dead ended up killing him. He hadn’t called Mrs. Morgenstein again, but when he did, what could he tell her? His mind traveled to Mr. Sassounian. He was a true friend and one of the kindest people he’d ever met. It just wasn’t fair that this had to happen to him. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t applied for the job, then that evil Cardoza wouldn’t have gotten a chance to tear into that kind old man. Gabriel remembered the panic and grief in Mrs. Sassounian’s voice. This can’t go on. It was one thing that he had to suffer this danger, but it just wasn’t fair that everyone around him had to suffer as well. He thought of Dottie and all the trouble he had caused her. Gabriel knew he was doing the right thing. He got up and unlocked his door. He headed up the creaky stairs to Dottie’s apartment and knocked on the dark brown door. 163

K. B. Forrest “What do you want? I told you the plumber is coming; you expect him to fly or something?” Dottie yelled over the sound of the television. “Dottie, it’s me, Gabriel.” Dottie opened the door. “So what happened this time? Robbery? Dead bodies in your apartment, what?” “No, I’m okay, I just need to make a call and I was wondering if you’d let me use your phone.” “Why do you need to use the phone? What the hell do I look like, Ma Bell or something?” “I’m sorry, Dottie. I’m not going to be troubling you for much longer. I just need to make this last call and I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I can find another place to stay. I’ve caused you so much trouble.” “Whaaaat?” Dottie brayed into his face. “So what are you saying, that my apartment isn’t safe? Is that what you’re saying? You’re insulting me! Fahcrissake, I can’t believe you. Fine, if you want to be like that, I guess I can’t stop you.” “But … but, I thought you were sick of the disturbances I’ve been causing! I wasn’t trying to insult you!” “Then do me a favor and stay here. Just so many nutcases can attack one apartment in any given stretch of time. Maybe things will be quiet for a while now. Go on and make your call. Who do you need to talk to?” 164

Calor del Amor Gabriel felt uneasy about telling her, but he knew Dottie would be offended if he was evasive. “Well, I needed to call the police.” “Oh fahcrissake, they should make a separate line for you. So something did happen? What? Another break-in? What did they take?” “No, no. Nothing like that. I just need to speak with Detective Cardoza.” “Oh, that hunk who pulled up here in the Ferrari? Hey, is he single? I was thinking that if I was a little younger I’d love to get a piece of his fine ass! Looked rich too!” Gabriel blushed furiously. “I … um. Well, he was just trying to get information out of me.” “Well, honey, you be sure and tell him that if he ever wants any more ‘information’ he can come and pump me for it anytime!” She brayed with laughter. “Say, you think you might could fall down the stairs or something so I can call him? No, no, of course not! Just you call him. You mind if I listen in?” “Well, I suppose not.” Dottie was already dialing the police station. She handed the phone to Gabriel. Gabriel waited and finally someone picked up. He asked for Detective Cardoza, and he was transferred. “Detective Kelly speaking.” Gabriel thought he recognized the name, but he 165

K. B. Forrest wasn’t sure. “Hello, this is Gabriel Palacios; I was supposed to be connected with Detective Cardoza.” “Cardoza isn’t in, but I can help you. What are you calling about?” “No, I need to speak with Detective Cardoza at once.” Kelly laughed. “Well, I don’t know what to tell you, sir, there’s no telling when he’ll be back. Are you staying at the same apartment that was broken into?” “Yes.” “How long will you be there?” “I’m going to be here for the rest of the night.” “How about around eight or nine in the evening? I can tell him to stop by so you can talk.” Dottie had held her meaty head close to the telephone during the entire conversation and now she clapped her hands together soundlessly and danced a little jig that set the floorboards to creaking in protest. “Okay, thank you, Detective.” Gabriel left Dottie’s apartment and reentered his own. He looked out the window and ducked back. Down the street he saw them watching. For the next hour, he peeked out from time to time. They were not going away, Cardoza and that woman. The other detective had told him that Cardoza was busy and that he couldn’t make it to 166

Calor del Amor talk to him until the evening, but he never guessed that this was what he was busy doing! And who was that woman? They were too far away, but still Gabriel thought he might have seen her before. Maybe she was someone from Cleveland. Gabriel’s blood froze as he considered another possibility. Perhaps Jake wasn’t planning on killing him. Maybe he planned to pin a crime on him. Whenever his father talked about how horrible prisons and jails were, Gabriel always said that he’d rather die than to be forced into a prison. His father told him scary details; how prisoners had to strip in front of everyone and have their private places checked regularly. They forced you to use the toilet in front of everyone! It sounded so awful! Maybe that was why Cardoza was acting so suspiciously. The pieces started to fall together. People had been blaming him, like that madman who tried to kill him! The man had accused him of stealing someone’s baby! It would be easy for Jake to plant evidence implicating him in some crime. Everyone would believe him because he’s a cop! Gabriel shuddered with horror. Even the prospect of being killed by his own father held less horror than the specter of going to jail. Jake had really decided to hurt him in the worst way possible. What could he ever do now? There was no place for him to run. It was only a matter 167

K. B. Forrest of time before Jake and Detective Cardoza came to drag him off to jail.

168

Calor del Amor

Chapter Twenty-One

T

he unmarked police car had brakes so bad that even tapping them could send you through the windshield. “Porquería! Damn piece of shit!” Cardoza was in a bad mood and now his shitting cell phone was ringing. He hated people who used their phones as they drove. He pulled it out anyway. “Cardoza here.” “Hey Cardoza, it’s Kelly.” Cardoza was silent for a moment. “Message for you, ole buddy. Your boyfriend, oh I mean the suspect in the black market baby case, called and wants to meet with you. He says he’ll be home at nine P.M. Sounds more like a date to me.” The sound of his laughter was indecent and it made Cardoza want to strangle him. “Why didn’t they patch his call through to me?” “The dispatcher didn’t know what to do with the call. You didn’t leave instructions. Hey listen, 169

K. B. Forrest why don’t you just exchange phone numbers with him? Seems like you got the hots for that Spic kid. Are you sure you can be objective? Maybe it’s time for me to take over the case.” “Go get yourself a potato and a six-pack and go have lunch, Kelly. Maybe you’ll feel better. Maybe you also need a cold shower. I know the reason for your interest in my relationships. You poor prick; now that you’re divorced you don’t get any. You get off watching me instead! Yeah, I get all the action. Hey! Got to go!” After dropping Laura DiPalma off at her hotel, Cardoza had considered going to his office. Now, after getting the call from Kelly, he didn’t know what to do. He wanted to call Gabriel right away, but the kid didn’t have a phone. Something had to be wrong for him to call the station like that. Either he had a confession for him, or he had some other scheme in mind. It was torture to wait. **** It was finally nearing eight o’clock and Cardoza was anxious. He pulled out his cell phone and decided to call Detective DiPalma. He had mulled it over for a while. “Laura, it’s Cardoza.” “Hey! You know, I called Cleveland and asked a friend to check on Jake Connerly. He doesn’t appear to be in town. A neighbor who lives 170

Calor del Amor directly below him told the officer I sent to check on him, that she saw him leave with luggage. Out of the clear blue, the old lady tells the officer that she thinks Gabriel is in danger. Apparently, she could hear all the fights and the screaming. She also knew that Gabriel had run away from Jake. She claims that she was the one who inspired Gabriel to do it after Jake beat him badly. She says he hasn’t called her for a while and she’s really afraid. Maybe she’s on the right track.” Cardoza grunted. He remembered Gabriel’s bruised body. “Well I wanted you to know that Gabriel called and left a message that he wants to meet with me at nine o’clock tonight — in a little less than an hour. I’m going to meet him alone.” “I’ll go with you.” DiPalma’s voice invited no argument. “No, I better go alone. Gabriel wanted to speak with me alone.” “That’s mad, Cardoza! You don’t go alone to a suspect’s home! It’s procedure to have back up!” “Listen, first you seem certain that he’s a harmless kid, and the next minute you think he’s dangerous!” “Well, I do believe we’re barking up the wrong tree, but we must follow procedure anyway. We never really know. A hunch is never enough! Besides, it’s his father, Jake, who scares me.” “I’ll be fine.” 171

K. B. Forrest **** Cardoza’s face was set in a stony expression when Gabriel opened the door and let him in. Wordlessly, he walked to the kitchen with Cardoza following him, and he sat on one of the old chairs. “You can stop playing with me now, Detective Cardoza; I know what you’re doing. You’re a flaming asshole to have led me on like that, just so that the end could be all the more painful for me. You … it was my first time, and you …” “The end? What …?” “Don’t give me your act anymore. I thought you were a nice guy. I believed your lame story about becoming a cop to help people, but now I know that you’re all the same. There is no good in the world that you’ve created for yourself, and you’ve taken from me all the good I thought there could be in mine. Go ahead and finish your game. If my father is outside, ready to come in and kill me, fine, bring it on. I don’t care anymore. If you two are playing games with me, and trying to pin some crime on me, then go ahead, but keep my friends out of this!” “Gabriel, if you’re going to confess, I should have a tape recorder and I have to read you your rights.” Gabriel threw his head back and laughed. 172

Calor del Amor “Rights? I have rights? What a joke! The funniest part is that you say it as if you really mean it! I may be a pissy actor, but you’re good. Better save it for some other fool, Cardoza. I know what you’re doing.” Gabriel pushed back his chair and stood. “I knew I couldn’t escape from my father that easily. My mother didn’t. He told me about your ‘Good Ole Boy’s club.’ Cops will always help fellow cops, even if it means breaking the law; or should I say especially if it means breaking the law! The bottom line is that you have the power. You carry the guns! You can put an innocent person in jail and create false evidence to back your claims. Everybody will believe you, not the poor fool you’re trying to do in!” Gabriel tried to hold back the tears, but it was impossible when he remembered Mr. Sassounian. “You cruel bastard! How could you do that to an innocent old man? You’ll have his death on your hands, Cardoza, and I hope you rot in Hell for what you did!” “What old man?” “What old man?” Gabriel asked in a sarcastic voice. “You know! Poor Mr. Sassounian! You went to my boss and threatened him until he had a heart attack. Now he’s about to die because you and Jake thought it would be amusing to heavy him out until he was forced to fire me! Well, he 173

K. B. Forrest fired me, and he’s on the brink of death. Congratulations!” Cardoza straightened in his chair and leaned forward, but Gabriel continued his attack. “He was innocent! If you have to kill someone, then kill me, you coward! How can you and Jake think you’re so brave when the only ones you pick on are old men? “I should’ve wondered when my house was first wrecked. You were there in only a minute! Why? Because you and my dad had just done the wrecking? And was that guy who tried to kill me one of your lowlife relatives, or did you get a druggy from the street and force him to do it? Why don’t you just do it yourself? Coward!” “Your innocent act isn’t …” Cardoza started to defend himself when a crash made them jump. A scream followed, and Cardoza sprang up and ran into the street. A voice called out, “Ar kez Asdvadz!” This was followed by a grunt and a roar of rage. Gabriel immediately recognized the cadence of the language — it had to be Armenian! But what made his heart freeze was the roar. That was his father, Jake. Through the haze of horror, he realized that Mr. Sassounian must have sent one of his relatives to watch his apartment, and he must have seen Jake approaching to kill him. Cardoza ran into the street, but the car sped off. 174

Calor del Amor It was only then that Gabriel noticed a woman lying on the sidewalk, and he ran to her side. He paled when he realized that it was Detective DiPalma. “¡Ay Dios mío! ¿Qué pasó?” They heard Cardoza calling out in Spanish. He practically lifted Detective DiPalma as if she were a child, but she pushed him angrily. “It’s okay, Cardoza, calm down, and let go of me!” “Detective DiPalma!” Gabriel gasped as he remembered her face. “What are you doing here? You can’t be helping my dad; he hates you!” “What happened? Were you attacked?” Cardoza looked from one of them to the other. “Yeah.” DiPalma rubbed the back of her neck. She struggled to regain her balance and held onto the car in front of her. “I’ll call an ambulance!” Cardoza whipped out his cell phone, but DiPalma nearly slapped it out of his hand. “I said I’m okay! I don’t need an ambulance! Now listen …” “Why did you follow me here? Now I feel que tengo la culpa de …” Cardoza cut in frantically. “No, Cardoza, it’s not your fault. I thought it was stupid for you to come here alone and I was right. I think that man who attacked me was going in to kill you and Gabriel.” 175

K. B. Forrest “It was my father! I’d know that voice anywhere!” Detective DiPalma nodded. I think you’re right, but I didn’t get a good look at him. The voice was his, though. What I’d like to know is who the guy was who came out of nowhere to save me? I would’ve surely been killed!” Gabriel knew, but he wasn’t going to talk. These people had it in for him, and they wouldn’t hesitate to destroy his friends as well. “If it was Jake, then maybe he was meant to come here for this meeting. Maybe that was the purpose of the meeting — to eliminate me!” Cardoza’s fingers still twitched on the cell phone keypad. “You pig-fuck! You asshole! You’re the one who’s working with him; remember? You almost got your partner killed! But maybe you planned that too, since this is Detective DiPalma, the woman my father hates the most! Are you willing to kill her too, just to please your new evil friend, my cop father?” “Now just a minute, here! Who are you to accuse me?” DiPalma studied his face and then laughed. “Enough of this! We’d better talk now.” ****

176

Calor del Amor The door to the apartment building opened and they saw Dottie come out with her baseball bat. “Do I need to call the cops? Wait, you are the cops, what am I saying! Hey, Cartosa, is that your girlfriend? He’s cheating on you, Gabriel, look at that. He’s a rat. I could’ve told you that!” Gabriel blushed and Cardoza avoided DiPalma’s eyes. “Detective Cardoza hates me, Dottie.” “Good, more room for me; but what about that dame? Hey you, are you dating him?” Detective DiPalma smiled and shook her head. “Fine then. Why don’t you come up to my apartment for some coffee? You still want I should call more cops for you?” “No.” DiPalma shook her head emphatically. “We can’t have any more people getting involved.” She turned away from Dottie. “Look, Alejandro, I’ve got my suspicions about Kelly, we’ve got to talk.” “What are you whispering about over there?” Dottie called out to them. “I thought you said you weren’t making any moves on him!” “Let’s go inside.” DiPalma pointed toward Gabriel’s apartment. “I have a few questions to ask Gabriel.” Cardoza strode ahead of them with obvious belligerence and opened the main door to the apartment. Dottie giggled. Cardoza was so busy 177

K. B. Forrest glaring at Gabriel that Dottie had the opportunity to lean close and kiss his cheek. “What a gentleman! You really float my boat, Cartosa.” DiPalma grinned, and made no effort to be sober even after Cardoza scowled at her. She raised her brows at him suggestively. Gabriel stormed past him. “Come on upstairs, I’d love the company,” Dottie called out to them. “No thank you; we have to ask Gabriel a few more questions.” DiPalma smiled up at Dottie, whose face was red and round in her excitement. “Well if you ever need better information, you know just who to pump for it!” Dottie winked at Cardoza and blew a kiss. Cardoza shuddered and fled into Gabriel’s apartment. After Gabriel closed the door, he seemed to draw himself up against Cardoza’s imminent attack. “Why don’t you stop lying and tell us the truth for once, Gabriel. I’m tired of these foolish games. You …” “Enough, Cardoza!” DiPalma had to raise her voice. “Get a hold of yourself. If you can’t handle this, go sit in a corner and have a time out.” Cardoza gave her a menacing scowl, but he stayed silent. 178

Calor del Amor “Alright then. Gabriel, Detective Cardoza is right; it’s never a good idea to lie to the police. We’re here to help you. I want to ask you a few questions and I want your full cooperation. Is that understood?” Gabriel nodded. “Okay. You left home recently, correct?” Gabriel glanced at Cardoza. “Yes, ma’am.” “Why did you lie?” Cardoza cut in. His face was flushed with fury. “I didn’t lie, I just never told you! Why should I tell you, you knew about my dad anyway!” DiPalma raised her hands and shouted, “Settle down, you two, right now or we’ll be here all night. I have no idea what you two have going, but you need to get hold of yourself, Cardoza.” Cardoza stared at the wall with his arms crossed. “Okay, then. Gabriel, you seem to be under the impression that Detective Cardoza has been in communication with your father. I don’t blame you for being suspicious, but let me reassure you that no such association has taken place. You don’t have to worry about answering our questions. Now, I want to know how many times you have visited New York since moving to Cleveland.” “This is the first time.” “Liar!” Cardoza shouted. “I’m not lying!” 179

K. B. Forrest “Why should I believe you?” “Gabriel, does your father visit New York as far as you know?” DiPalma asked as if Cardoza hadn’t spoken. Gabriel shook his head. “Has he ever been gone for unexplained business trips?” “Well I suppose, I don’t know. I really don’t remember anything like that. What is this all about?” “Gabriel, you may be in a considerable amount of danger. I don’t feel right leaving you alone in this apartment. I want you to pack up a few days worth of clothing so we can take you to a safe house.” Gabriel took one look at Cardoza’s angry face and shook his head. “I’d rather deal with whatever creeps come after me, than to go with him.” Cardoza’s jaw muscles worked. “Don’t be stupid, Gabriel, just do what she says. This dive is unsafe.” Suddenly a loud knock at the door drew their attention away from each other. “Hey, Cartosa, you calling my place a dive?” Dottie yelled through the door. “I’ll have you know this is the safest place in town, Bub, and don’t you forget it!” Cardoza took a step away from the door and 180

Calor del Amor looked at it with alarm. They heard a rattle of keys and the door swung open. “Now you listen here. I’ve got more people looking out for me than you can imagine. I’ve got my cousin, Vito; my brother, Gino and his friends; and my son-in-law Jimmie drives by this place every hour in his taxi. You can’t find a better place than this.” “I agree; I’ll feel much safer with Dottie.” Gabriel moved closer to her while still looking at Cardoza. “Fine!” Cardoza’s face was red with fury. “You deserve what you get then!” He stormed out and slammed the door behind him. “Temper, temper!” Dottie wagged her finger. “I’d bet he’ll be great in the sack,” she whispered to Gabriel. “He’s hot-blooded!” She cackled as she nudged Gabriel’s elbow.

181

K. B. Forrest

Chapter Twenty-Two

G

abriel stirred from his doze as he heard a loud knocking at his door. “Hey, Gabriel, it’s me.” Gabriel got up and unlocked the door for Dottie. “Wow, you look terrible, kid! You need some coffee. You want to come up to my apartment for some donuts and what-not?” “Yes, thank you.” Gabriel was touched by her kindness. He always thought of Dottie as a little rough around the edges, but as time passed, he was beginning to see a different side of her. “Yeah, well I figured you didn’t have anything better to do since your boss almost kicked. Is he dead yet?” Gabriel shook his head. Dottie unlocked the door to her apartment and headed over to the kitchen. Gabriel remembered the fear he felt when he first set foot in Dottie’s apartment when he’d 182

Calor del Amor almost been killed. It felt like ages ago, and now his situation had only gotten worse, not better. “What are you doing in there?” Dottie called out from the kitchen. “Come in and have a seat while I get this coffee started.” He entered the kitchen and watched Dottie turn the coffeemaker on and get out a box of bakery doughnuts. “I always said; a good donut puts my nerves to rest. You look like you could use this whole box. I never seen someone with as much bad luck as you. First, you get robbed, you almost get killed, your boss almost kicks, a few death threats scattered over town, whaaa? I’ve been telling my girlfriend Barbara all about this and every time I go to get my nails done, I can’t believe I’ve always got more to tell her. Barbara says to me, she says, ‘Look, Dottie, get that big hunky boyfriend of yours to take care of Gabriel.’” “What boyfriend?” “Oh, well, I guess Cartosa isn’t really my boyfriend, you know it’s more like a fling, but you know there’s someone else who really has the hots for me.” “Really?” “Don’t sound so shocked, I still got it,” Dottie said adjusting her bra. “He’s so persistent. Sometimes I look out of my window and I see him in his car, looking up at this place. He’s trying to 183

K. B. Forrest catch a glimpse of me as I walk by the window. He’s not very hot, but he looks like the kind who won’t stray. He’s kind of dumpy, with thinning brown hair. Looks like a professor or something.” Dottie walked over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. “No, he’s not there, too bad; I’d show him to you. Hey what’s wrong with you? You nervous about that psycho father of yours?” Gabriel nodded. “I’m worried about everything. My life is such a mess.” There was a quaver in his voice. “Well if your crackpot father comes around, see that baseball bat? He’ll get that right up his ass.” Gabriel smiled weakly. “But you know, you really should trust Cartosa a little more. I think he really wants to help you.” “No he doesn’t! He hates me!” Tears formed in his eyes and he wiped them away angrily. “I really thought he had feelings for me, but he never did. He never believed in me at all.” “No, no, dear,” Dottie said, reaching over to pat Gabriel on the back. “Don’t say that. You got to trust in love. I know it must be a little different what with you two being guys and all, but you can work it out, I swear! Macho men like Cartosa can be such jerks, but you can have fun with them too sometimes. Like when I married my third husband in Vegas. He was a truck driver. We were 184

Calor del Amor both drunk, and when I woke up the next morning and found him naked in my bed, I screamed, and then he screamed when he saw me! We laughed about that later on.” “I didn’t know you had a husband. What happened to him?” “Hey, don’t ask personal questions!” Dottie yanked his ponytail hard so that he yelped. “You know what you should do? You ought to march right up to Cartosa and ask him out again. Then you should come with me to the hairdresser. The other hairdresser besides Barbara, his name is Nicholas. He’s gay, just like you. Your hair looks great, don’t get me wrong, but you can tell him all your problems. Hairdressers are made for that, you know.” “But I can’t forget the mean things he said!” “Listen, sweetie, like I said, macho men are natural jerks. You got to take the good with the bad. Say, maybe if you move in with him, he can protect you from all the wackos you seem to attract.” “Dottie, I think I hate him!” “Oh yeah? Then why were you so upset when he started up with his macho man bullshit? I seen it. You looked like you were about to cry. Just march up to him and say, ‘Listen Bub, you and me gotta talk.’ It’s a piece of cake if you know what you’re doing. But just look at us, we sound like 185

K. B. Forrest we’re on that old Jerry Springer show! You could star in an episode called ‘men who thought they could trust in love, but then found out their lovers were ex-transvestites with incestuous relationships with their immediate family.’ Look, let’s have some coffee, and talk about it later.”

186

Calor del Amor

Chapter Twenty-Three

C

ardoza entered his office and saw one of the drawers of his desk slightly ajar. He opened it and saw that his yellow legal pad lay sideways with one page wrinkled. Cardoza was meticulous with his work and besides that, he had an accurate memory. He frowned. Alfonso, the custodian, was fastidious about maintaining people’s privacy. He would dust around a paper rather than lift it, so what had happened here? Cardoza walked into the hall and thought for a moment. It was still early and Alfonso would be cleaning the break room. The smell of pine-scented cleanser guided him. “Alfonso, how’s it going?” “Very well, Sir.” Cardoza always felt angry that all of the cleaning staff was Hispanic. It was true that Alfonso didn’t have much of an education, but why always the lowest tasks? “Alfonso, have you given out keys to any of the 187

K. B. Forrest offices lately?” Alfonso went pale. Cardoza knew he was always terrified of being blamed for taking something. “No. Well, the other day Detective Kelly forgot his key.” “So you opened the door for him?” Alfonso reddened and looked fearful. “I wanted to, but he insisted that he would open it and then return the keys. I … I give them to him because he order me to.” Alfonso’s accent thickened as his nervousness increased. Cardoza saw that Alfonso looked disturbed. “Is there something missing?” Alfonso’s eyes moved rapidly as his fear grew. “Nothing at all! Don’t worry! But in the future, follow the policy and refuse to give your set of keys to anyone.” “But I don’t want to get arrested! I get afraid of the police. I do what they tell me!” Cardoza felt sorry for the man. “Don’t worry. You just tell me if anybody gives you a hard time, okay?” “Yes, Detective Cardoza. I do that next time.” Cardoza was furious as he returned to his desk. Things seemed to be falling into place now. How had he been so damned stupid? So Kelly was into this thing deep! Already he had started to doubt Gabriel’s guilt. After all, he had the handwriting in 188

Calor del Amor the ledger book compared to that in Gabriel’s work application, and they didn’t match at all. Another thing was that he could find no evidence that he’d ever left Cleveland after he moved there with his parents years ago. Detective DiPalma had vouched to the fact that the father was a tyrant and had kept Gabriel at home. The biggest evidence of his innocence was in his heart. From the minute he’d set eyes on Gabriel he wanted him to be innocent. He wanted to believe his heart, but there had been so much damning evidence! But if that evidence had been planted … He took out his leather bound notebook and began to write down his ideas. First, there was the break-in at Gabriel’s apartment. He had thought that it seemed to be the work of someone seeking revenge. Kelly knew the area that Cardoza was staking out as he watched for a woman matching la Gata Negra’s description and her boyfriend. Maybe Kelly saw Gabriel and took advantage of his arrival to stage the break-in to throw me off? The wanted poster was another joke. How could he have thought that it was revenge? All of those pregnant teens were from poor families, according to the girl who reported the crime. How could one of them or their families make such a thing? One would need sophisticated instruments and the knowledge to work them! Kelly has access 189

K. B. Forrest to digital cameras, a computer, and a printer. Cardoza remembered how he’d seen the computer search on Gabriel, which had been attributed to Kelly. Why would Kelly have been interested in him, and how would he have even known he existed? He shoved his desk drawer shut. The bastard was reading his notes! Coming in here and reading his personal notes! That incident with the pregnant girl fleeing from Gabriel’s apartment had to have been staged. How had it been that she had a ride waiting there, and why did they flee? More serious was the attempt on Gabriel’s life. He had given Gabriel no moral support, even though it had happened right after their date — right after he had taken the innocent young man into his arms. Instead, he’d just flown off the handle and accused Gabriel. How in the world did Kelly get to the apartment so quickly if it hadn’t been that he’d planned the entire thing? How could he plot to have an innocent kid killed, and why? He remembered with a jolt that Kelly was the one who set up the appointment for him to meet with Gabriel last night. He could have informed Jake Connerly! What was his involvement in this case? What had Kelly been doing in that apartment so near Gabriel’s building? And that woman he’d 190

Calor del Amor seen leaving afterwards; were they connected at all? He shook his head and decided that he had made a huge mistake. It would have been bad enough to have made such a mistake on his own, but this was much worse. He’d been made the fool by a person like Kelly! He’d been outwitted by a half-wit. What did that say about him? **** Cardoza’s mind was in a whirl as he drove away from the station and entered the traffic in his personal car. His anger at being deceived by Kelly was being replaced by the guilt he felt for failing to protect the man he loved. He had considered the possibility that Gabriel might be innocent, especially after their date; but he was fearful that his feelings were getting in the way of his logic. He’d been so cocksure of himself, even when it was obvious to a stranger like Detective DiPalma that Gabriel didn’t have it in him to be so cruel. And now Gabriel was furious with him. How could he ever forgive him for what he’d done to Mr. Sassounian? How could he forgive himself? Had he lost all perspective? Even if Mr. Sassounian had been involved in some shady deals for the ALF, that didn’t mean that Cardoza had the right to lambaste him like he did. Didn’t his own father sympathize with Puerto Rican 191

K. B. Forrest freedom fighters? Technically, Cardoza had been in the right, but in his heart, he knew he had done something terrible. How could that sweet and innocent kid ever trust him again? He remembered not being able to penetrate him that night, but Gabriel was so naïve that he said, ‘This was my first time.’ The sweetness of that moment made his heart ache, but he threw it all away when he saw that blasted notebook. And it must have been Kelly who’d planted it there; he was the one who arrived early and who inspected the crime scene alone! Cardoza was too tired to be rational. What he did know, was that now Gabriel was in real danger! He knew he could never reason with Gabriel as long as he believed that Mr. Sassounian was suffering. He decided to solve that problem first. **** Cardoza entered the hospital and tried to quell his uneasiness. “Excuse me, I want to see a patient by the name of Ara Sassounian.” The nurse rolled her eyes. “Another one for Mr. Sassounian. Maybe I should make a sign and hang it on the desk. Room two eighty-three on the second floor.” 192

Calor del Amor Cardoza saw what the nurse was talking about as he neared the room. As he got off the elevator, the first thing he saw were groups of Armenians talking in hushed voices. Some of them looked ragged, and travel-weary. He looked around and was very conscious of the fact that he had threatened these people. He felt guilty and couldn’t meet their eyes. His uneasiness grew with each step he took toward Mr. Sassounian’s room. The people in front of Mr. Sassounian’s door parted, but as they did so, a small old woman in the center of the group caught sight of Cardoza. She paled visibly. “It must be Cardosian!” A ripple of whispers followed her announcement. “Are you Mrs. Sassounian?” She nodded warily. “I’m Detective Cardoza. Please don’t be alarmed; I have good news for Mr. Sassounian. It will comfort him a great deal. May I speak with him?” The old woman looked at him for a moment and seemed to be debating with herself. “I promise this will not worry him.” “Okay, you may go in.” When Cardoza entered the room, he saw that Sassounian was awake. The heart monitor near the old man’s bed bleeped fast when Sassounian saw Cardoza. A nurse came rushing in. 193

K. B. Forrest “Please, Mr. Sassounian, I’m here to apologize!” Cardoza spoke quickly before the nurse tried to throw him out. Sassounian looked surprised and interested. “Please leave us, Samira. I need to speak with this man.” The nurse tried to protest, but Sassounian shooed her away. Cardoza sat down on a chair by the bed. “I’m so sorry this had to happen, Mr. Sassounian. I never meant to scare you so badly. I do have a few things on you; I know you’re involved in the ALF, but all of it is pure hearsay. We would have to launch an entire investigation, and no one has interest in that. Personally, I always planned to look the other way.” “So you’re not going to hurt my family?” Cardoza hung his head. “No, I would never do something like that. I am ashamed that I said that.” “Then tell me, son, why did you approach me?” “Well, I shouldn’t tell you everything, but … I suspected the young man you hired, Gabriel Palacios, of terrible crimes. You had nothing to do with that, but my investigation was going nowhere. I thought you would give me some leads, but it turns out that Gabriel wasn’t involved in those crimes. I don’t know how I could have been so cruel. I suspected him so much that it was 194

Calor del Amor driving me crazy. And now look what I’ve done. I’m very sorry, Mr. Sassounian.” “Don’t curse yourself, Cardosian. You young Armenians are too hotheaded. I used to be that way in my youth.” Mr. Sassounian laughed softly. “But I’m not …” Cardoza tried to correct him, but the old man held up a wrinkled hand. “But tell me, Cardosian, you seem to care for Gabriel, is this not true?” Cardoza tried to think of an answer, but Sassounian only smiled and continued. “Yes, I can see that you do. He may be Puerto Rican and a male as well, but let me tell you, he’ll still make a fine mate for a young Armenian like yourself. I remember when I was your age. How different things were back then. You never had to see the way we were killed by the Turks. You should learn your history.” He sighed and looked weary. “Ah, if only you could have seen what these old eyes have seen, but no, no one should suffer like that. You’ll never really understand, but at least you’ve finally seen the folly of your ways. This makes my old heart light indeed. Cardosian, you should go to the Armenian Church and bear your heart to the cross. Maybe that will open your eyes to who you are and where you came from.” He laughed again softly, “Maybe too, that boy will like you? I prayed for many hours for my wife.” He paused and looked up at Cardoza with 195

K. B. Forrest rheumy eyes. “My son, I too have prayed and have seen the folly in war. I will commit myself and my family to peace. We must try to end wars everywhere and although we cannot forget the past, we should work for a bright future, na?” Cardoza smiled back at Mr. Sassounian, reluctant now to correct him about his nationality. He might just follow his advice though, because in his heart he figured he’d need something like a miracle to make Gabriel trust him again.

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ardoza answered his cell phone at the first ring. The operator asked if she could patch a call through and Cardoza agreed. A young, quavering female voice spoke to him in Spanish. “Are you Detective Cardoza?” The girl asked even though he’d already introduced himself. “Yes I am.” “You are not Detective Kelly?” “No, that could never be. He is a Gringo and his Spanish is terrible,” Cardoza joked, hoping to calm her. “I am scared of Detective Kelly.” She began to sob. “He killed my friend, Carmencita. He killed her because she wanted to tell on him that he steals our babies to sell to Gringos!” Cardoza’s mouth sagged. He couldn’t believe his ears. “I can protect you from him. Just tell me where you are and I will get you.” “It’s not just me,” she cried. “There are seven of 197

K. B. Forrest us here. He says if we go to the police we will end up like Carmencita — dead.” She began to weep again. Cardoza was excited, yet frightened for the girls. What if they were spread out and he wasn’t able to collect them before Kelly attacked them? The safest thing would be to collar Kelly first. He would call DiPalma and have her try to find the girls. “Do you know where the other girls are?” “Yes, I know where they all live.” “Do you know of a pretty Spanish speaking woman who might be helping Kelly? The girl who came to us before mentioned such a lady.” “The lady was only forced to do things for him. She was a kind woman. I think Detective Kelly killed her too, because we have not seen her since Carmencita was murdered. That’s why I’m so scared. We are all scared that the police will kill us like they killed Carmencita.” Cardoza could hear the young girl snuffling. “No! I will promise on my very life that I will let no person harm you. I promise I will break that man’s face if he even looks at you!” He got her location and called DiPalma. He prayed that he could carry out his promise to the girl. He had to save them all! **** 198

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The evening sunlight glinted off the car windows in the street below. Dottie was looking out, trying to spot her “secret admirer.” Gabriel was seated on the couch in Dottie’s living room, staring at the wall. The television was on as always, but Gabriel’s mind was somewhere else. “Honey, come over here quick! There he is; you see him? Look, right there! He just pulled up in that sedan! Do you see him? He’s right there!” Gabriel strained to see. The face behind the glass looked disturbingly familiar, and he couldn’t place it at first, but then it came to him. That man again! Bernie from the Amtrak! What was he doing romancing Dottie? No! Maybe the man was after him! He didn’t want to alarm Dottie, so he held his tongue. “Can you see him?” “Yes, I see.” Gabriel couldn’t summon enough excitement to please Dottie. “Hey what’s wrong with you? Oh look, he’s getting out his little opera glasses. What’d you say I give him a little thrill?” Dottie opened up the window and leaned out. “Hi there! Hi!” Dottie called out and waved vigorously. “Oh just look at that! He’s shy!” The car started up and drove away quickly. The phone rang as Dottie was closing the 199

K. B. Forrest window. “Let me get that, Gabriel; it’s probably my aunt; she always calls at this time. Hello? Well, whatda ya know! When you men come, you come in droves! Hey Gabriel, guess who? It’s Cartosa! I swear, I never even gave him my phone number … these men. So how are you, sweetheart?” Gabriel could hear Cardoza hollering something to Dottie. “Oh go on now, sweetie, hold your horses. Gabriel! Cartosa wants to talk with you. Didn’t I tell you he is a very confused person? He calls me up then he asks to talk to you. God, listen, kid, you can have him, he’s way too flighty for me. I like a man with a little persistence, like my secret admirer. Here take the phone already!” “What?” “Gabriel? Gabriel, you’ve got to listen to me.” “Why? I don’t have to listen to any more of your bullshit. You don’t have the right to harass me like this! I’m going to get a lawyer.” “What?” Dottie screamed into his other ear. “You don’t need a lawyer yet, you haven’t even married him! Give the poor schmuck a chance!” “Please, just listen, Gabriel, you are in serious danger!” “So you just figured that out! You’re a regular Sherlock Holmes! Imagine, after only a few breakins and an attempt on my life, you’re able to deduce that I’m in danger. Wow, that’s amazing, 200

Calor del Amor Cardoza.” “Gabriel, please, you must listen! I’m serious!” “Oh, and I’m not?” Gabriel sneered. Dottie shook her head. “You’re really going about this the wrong way, kid. Hey, put me on and I’ll show you how it’s done.” “Gabriel, I know I hurt you, but now is not the time, I have to run. I just want you to know, I’m sending a squad car down to your place. Stay with Dottie; don’t open the door for anyone, not Jake, not Kelly especially, not Kelly, got that? No police. Just stay with Dottie and wait for me.” “What? You’re not making sense!” Gabriel heard a click, and Cardoza was gone. “Well what a jerk!” Dottie screeched and waved her big arms. “He hung up on you!” She’d been holding her roller-clad head close to the phone to catch every word. “I hate that cop! I hate all cops!” Gabriel screamed and slammed the phone down. “Dottie, I have to go back to my apartment and try to calm down. If he calls again tell him to drop dead.”

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Chapter Twenty-Five

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ardoza slammed the palm of his hand into the steering wheel repeatedly as he tried to maneuver his car through the traffic. His head was spinning with anxiety. What should he do? He wanted to save Gabriel first. He had to be in danger, but what about the pregnant girls? How would he feel if any of them were harmed? He just told Gabriel that he would send a patrol car to his apartment, but if he did, then Kelly would be alerted immediately! He had led Gabriel to believe he’d be safe! Who would Kelly attack first? He already contacted DiPalma and hoped that she would find the girls before Kelly found them. If he sent other cops, it might scare them off, and then he might never get to them — while they were alive anyway. It was a risky job for DiPalma too. But Gabriel weighed on his mind. He knew Gabriel didn’t believe him anymore. Why should he? Cardoza checked the station, but found that 202

Calor del Amor Kelly had left, and he wasn’t at home either. The only thing left to do is to try to call him on his cell phone and trick him into a meeting. There was every chance that Kelly knew that he was on to him, though, so he had to be careful. He reached for his cell phone and called Kelly’s number. “Cardoza here.” It took work to try to sound casual. “What do you want?” “As much as I hate to involve an asshole like you, I need some help. “What’s up?” Kelly sounded interested. “It’s this case involving the baby-selling scheme. I’ve got some new information, and I’m certain that this Gabriel Palacios is the mastermind behind it.” “So what do you have on him?” Kelly asked offhandedly. “Listen, Kelly, we better talk this over in person. I don’t like these cell phones. Can we meet in my office?” “No, I’m not far from the kid’s apartment. Do you plan to make the arrest tonight, Cardoza?” “Yeah, if I can get you for backup, Kelly.” “Okay. Why don’t you meet me two blocks south of Gabriel Palacios’ apartment — you’ve seen that small park where the Blacks always shoot hoops?” 203

K. B. Forrest “Yeah, I know the place. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Cardoza smelled a rat in this arrangement, but how could Kelly know? Maybe he’d gotten to the girls already? Cardoza felt that he had no choice but to go and meet him, no matter what the outcome. He clicked off his phone and turned his car in the direction of Gabriel’s apartment and the park. **** Cardoza wished it wasn’t as dark as it was. When he arrived at the park, he couldn’t see Kelly’s car, which was a tan Corolla. Maybe he was using one of the department’s unmarked cars. Cardoza walked toward the swing set and felt a thrill of fear. Was he walking into a trap? “Kelly!” There was no response. “Kelly, you here?” “Hey, Cardoza!” Kelly stepped out of the shadows. “Want to tell me what this is all about now?” Cardoza noticed that Kelly kept his hands clear of his jacket. He wasn’t reaching for a gun. Cardoza wondered how he’d come here without a real plan. How was he going to arrest Kelly if he resisted? Perspiration spread from his underarms and chest, and Cardoza could feel the weight of his 204

Calor del Amor service pistol. It wouldn’t be easy to reach for it, but he had clipped his forty-five semi-automatic to his belt, and that would be easier to get to. “So what proof do you have of Gabriel Palacios’ involvement?” “It’s right here.” Cardoza reached as if to get something from his pocket. “It’s this letter I received.” His hand came out with his gun. “What? Are you crazy, Cardoza? Oh shit! Now I know — you’re involved with that Palacios kid! You’re so taken with him that you want to kill me to shut me up!” “No, my friend; in fact, I’m here to arrest you for the murder of that pregnant teenaged girl.” “You’re crazy! That gay boy-toy of yours must have driven you mad! Don’t you see? He’s making a fool of you!” “Save your breath, Kelly! It’s too late for stories. The girls you’ve been exploiting are safe now. They were picked up this evening.” “What? You’re nuts, Cardoza!” “The girls have fingered you in a photo lineup. You better think of another story.” Cardoza added a few lies to scare Kelly. Kelly seemed to think hard and his jaws worked as if he were rehearsing a million lies. “All right, I got taken by that woman who’s behind all this. Her name is Hilda. I’m ashamed of what I 205

K. B. Forrest did, but I fell for her charms. Hey, after all, I’m only human! She killed the girl. Believe me, Cardoza, I’ve spent countless hours trying to figure out how to bring her to justice; but I was seduced and I couldn’t fight my urges! You got to believe me!” He raised his hand in a pleading gesture, but before Cardoza could see it, he pointed a small can of Mace he’d kept in the palm of his hand. The spray hit him in his left eye and Cardoza screamed. He fired off two shots, but neither hit Kelly, who was running away. Cardoza was about to fire again, when he saw Kelly raising his handgun and firing. A searing pain shot through him, and he was thrown against a bench. The last thing he saw was the image of Gabriel’s face. Cardoza smiled as he crumpled to the ground.

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Chapter Twenty-Six

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don’t know, Gabriel, honey, that doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Cartosa may be confused, but he sounded pretty serious. I think maybe it would be better if you stayed with me tonight. Look, why don’t you help me watch ‘Survivor’ for a while, and you’ll feel better when you see how many problems they got. Then we’ll go downstairs and gather up some of your things. Okay?” Gabriel wanted to leave right away, but Dottie looked excited as she trundled over to the television and plopped down on the seedy couch. “Honey, you want a Twinkie?” Dottie flipped to the right channel and settled down with her food. Gabriel shook his head. He stared at the television for a few minutes, but soon he became too irritated to sit there any longer. “Dottie, I’m going downstairs to gather up a few things for tonight.” 207

K. B. Forrest “Okay, sweetie, you need my help?” “No, I’ll just be a minute.” “Okay, you be careful.” Dottie took a large bite of her Twinkie and washed it down with a gulp of Diet Coke. Gabriel made his way down the creaky stairs and opened the door to his apartment. He felt a prickle of nervousness when he looked into the dark interior of the room. So much had happened to him in this ratty apartment. He flicked on the lights and walked into the bedroom. Rather than dispel the fearful unknown, the dim lights created menacing shadows. A coat hung on the door made Gabriel start, but he remembered that he put it there earlier. My nerves are shot. Although he had made a halfhearted attempt to clean the apartment after the break-in, many of his clothes were still in jumbled heaps on the floor. Gabriel sighed and was securing the deadbolt, when he felt a powerful arm encircle his chest and a meaty hand was clapped over his mouth just as he inhaled to scream. “Hello, Gabriel.” Jake held his head close to his face and Gabriel could smell the rank odor of his breath. Gabriel struggled wildly, but then he felt the cold blade press into his side. “That’s right, numb-nut, you settle down, or 208

Calor del Amor you know what’ll happen to you. I’m a trained killer; one wrong move and this goes straight into your kidneys. You don’t want to see your own blood all over this crappy floor, do you?” Gabriel was trembling as he felt the knife stab into him a little. He looked down to see blood trickling down the blade. “Now, I’m going to take my hand away from your mouth and you’re going to tell me how you ratted me out to DiPalma. How much did you tell the bitch? If you try to yell for help, or make one wrong move, remember I learned how to kill at the police academy. All it’s going to take is one stroke and you’re finished.” Jake took his hand away from his mouth. Gabriel’s breath came in ragged gasps. Upstairs he could hear the game show on Dottie’s television. For a moment, he considered screaming for Dottie; he would never be heard over the noise of the television. Terror closed his throat, but he tried to think of a plan. “Out with it! What does she know?” “I didn’t tell her anything!” “Don’t mess with me, bastard! My patience is already gone, you’ve got two seconds to tell me, or you die, just like that whore you call your mother died.” Gabriel gasped at the thing he always knew, but refused to believe — his father had murdered 209

K. B. Forrest his mom. His heart was filled with sudden rage even as grief tried to overtake him. The knife was still jabbing his side, but he kept his cool. He had to think of a quick lie! “Dad, it wasn’t me. I ran away because Detective DiPalma was trying to milk information out of me. I have a letter in that jacket pocket. I’m being ordered to appear before some kind of police committee, otherwise they say they can put me into jail. I was afraid to tell on you, so I ran away.” He tried to sound convincing. “What! Let me see that!” Jake loosened his hold, but Gabriel pulled away violently. He flew forward and grabbed the tire iron Dottie had given him. Jake looked at him sharply, but he was already bringing the tire iron down with every ounce of strength he had. Jake screamed in pain and fell against the open bedroom door, a trail of blood cascading over one wild eye. Upstairs, the “Wheel of Fortune” crowd gave a round of applause, covering the noise. The sound of Dottie’s feet smacking the floor in glee made a surreal backdrop to Gabriel’s impending death. Gabriel bolted toward the living room, but Jake regained his feet and he launched himself after him like an unstoppable demon. Gabriel picked up one of the rickety chairs and hurled it against his father as hard as he could. The chair splintered against his chest and as he fell, the table crashed 210

Calor del Amor down and another chair smashed. Gabriel tried to yell for help, but a hoarse whisper left his dry throat as he jerked away from Jake. “I’m going to kill you!” Jake screamed and his left eyelid blinked spasmodically. He still clutched the knife in his hand and he threw himself at his son. His feet became tangled in the wreckage of the chair and Jake stumbled, falling hard as he roared again. Gabriel saw him scrambling to rise, and the blood-speckled knife glinted in his hand. It was then that he noticed the cut Jake had inflicted to his thigh. Blood poured out of it, making a trail wherever Gabriel fled. Jake lurched forward stabbing the air in front of him, but he slipped on the blood and fell backwards heavily. He let out a wheezing breath and struggled for a moment. Gabriel let out a scream of terror and dismay when he saw the large wooden splinter protruding from Jake’s gut. He gasped in horror as blood so dark it was almost black, spurted upwards in an obscene cascade from his father’s side. Gabriel ran to his side and his arms flailed the air in confusion. “Dad! I’ll call for help! Please hang on! Don’t die, Dad, please!” A blood-slimed hand shot out and grabbed Gabriel’s ankle. Jake’s crazed eyes threatened to 211

K. B. Forrest melt him with his rage, but suddenly they were blank. He pulled off Jake’s hand and fled. He could hear a sputtering sound followed by retching of some sort. The sound of a soft wheeze followed him as he ran. Blood covered Gabriel’s hands and it was spattered in drops all over his body. The wound on his thigh drained a trail of blood onto the floor as he ran up the steps. He stood in front of Dottie’s door and looked down at himself for the first time. Dottie threw open her door. “Oh my God! Get inside quick, quick! What happened? Oh God, I need to call the police! What happened? You’re hurt, Oh God, don’t die on me!” “My dad, he came. I found him in my … oh shit, I think he’s dead!” He was pale with terror, and suddenly turned and vomited. Dottie patted his back and moaned. Suddenly the buzzer sounded. Dottie ran in a tight circle, then pushed the intercom. “What?” “Open up, police. This is Detective Kelly.” “Oh thank God, come in!” Dottie flipped the switch to unlock the main door and turned back to Gabriel. “Thank God! Tell me what happened to you, Gabriel! Your father found you? Is he still there? I can’t believe the police could come here so quickly; you think they were following Jake?” 212

Calor del Amor Dottie suddenly stopped her tirade of questions and her eyes went round. “Oh no, what have I done!” Dottie shrieked and jumped up. “Cartosa told us not to let Kelly in, and I just did!” Dottie ran over to the door and put the chain in place just before it was pushed open. “Open up this door damn it!” Kelly screamed as he rapped on the door. “Oh no! Quick, Gabriel, call Cartosa!” “No, no!” Kelly softened his tone. “You don’t want to call Cardoza. Can’t you see? He’s in on this whole mess; this whole time he’s been trying to pin this crime on you, Mr. Palacios! Why do you think he’s been pestering you all the time! I knew you were innocent, but I didn’t figure out Cardoza’s involvement until just recently. Just open up this door, please. There isn’t much time. He’s coming soon and I need to get you away from here.” Dottie tried to slam the door in his face, but Kelly kept the chain taut with his weight against the door. “Oh no! Dottie, he must be telling the truth! Alejandro was out to get me this whole time!” “Don’t listen to him, kid! Cartosa said not to let him in!” “You don’t know Cardoza like I do. He’s a coldhearted bastard; I just didn’t want to admit it. If we don’t listen to Detective Kelly, we’re going to 213

K. B. Forrest be putting ourselves at risk. I’ve got to open the door.” “No!” Dottie screamed as Gabriel fought to push her aside and unlatched the chain. Kelly solved the dispute by kicking the door open. He ran in and shut the door behind him with an evil grin on his face. “You morons! At least your stupidity is good for something! You ruined everything for me! Do you know that? Cardoza’s dead. Thanks to his prying, the bastard is dead. I had to kill the prick. You don’t have to worry about calling him, you damn gay-flamer! You know what? It’s just as well. There will be fewer queers in the world, and fewer fat obnoxious women after I kill you two!” Kelly raised his service revolver at Gabriel and started to squeeze the trigger. Behind him, the door flew open, knocking Kelly off balance. His gun went off and the bullet gouged a hole in the oatmeal colored linoleum. Gabriel cried out in a combination of relief and surprise as he looked into the face of Alejandro Cardoza. Kelly was scrambling to get back onto his feet when Dottie laced her big hands together and brought them down on his head. The gun fell to the ground and Dottie let out a whoop of delight as she pounced on it. Kelly began to rise, but Cardoza threw himself on top of him with a growl. Cardoza threw the 214

Calor del Amor befuddled man onto his back and began pummeling him with his fists. There was a look of rage on his face. Blood poured out of Kelly’s nose, but Cardoza didn’t stop. “That’s it, Cartosa!” Dottie cheered him on. “Give it to him; give it to him!” She punched the air to urge Cardoza on. Dottie still held the gun, and Gabriel cringed in terror, but he finally ran over to Cardoza. “No, stop, Alejandro. Please! He’s not going to get up again!” Cardoza stopped, and then he spat in Kelly’s face. “He deserves to die.” He began to put handcuffs on Kelly and Dottie took obvious pleasure in grabbing Kelly’s arms and bringing them around for him. As Cardoza stood, he muttered, “I won’t kill him because you asked …” He couldn’t go on because Gabriel threw his arms around him and kissed him. “Oh my dear lord!” Gabriel heard Dottie squeal. “Look, it’s my secret admirer! You came here to save my life!” In the door stood Bernie. The same Bernie who harassed Gabriel at the Amtrak station! His hands fluttered nervously and his feet shuffled. Cardoza glared at the man. “Who are you?” Cardoza shouted at the mousey professor. 215

K. B. Forrest They heard a nasal honk of alarm, and the floorboards creaked as Dottie rushed over to the balding fat man, gun in hand. “Don’t shoot him!” Gabriel yelled, thinking Dottie was going to shoot the startled man. “Shoot him? I’m going to kiss him!” She threw the gun aside. “No! Dottie, that’s not your secret admirer! He’s a jerk who’s been working for my father! He’s been following me since I left home!’ Dottie stood dumbfounded, but Cardoza stiffened again. “Just here to see the action!” The balding man whined and waved his arms. “I just saw something happening!” “Why you! I’ve seen you watching Gabriel!” With a roar of fury, Cardoza leapt upon Bernie and punched his face. Bernie cried out once as he hit the ground, but then began to sob. “I want to call my mother! She’ll have your asses in a sling when she gets our lawyer to …” He cried and snot ran down his face as Cardoza handcuffed him, but Dottie slapped the man and then held his cheeks so hard that he looked like a blowfish. “You jerk! So here you had me fooled into thinking …” **** 216

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Gabriel was too involved in Alejandro’s kiss to notice anything else. Those powerful arms wrapped around his body and held him tight. Gabriel gripped him fiercely, but he flinched. “What’s wrong?” Alejandro opened his shirt and pulled up the bulletproof vest. “Kelly shot me. He almost killed me, but I remembered to dress well!” He smiled at Gabriel’s shock. There was an enormous black and blue bruise on his chest about where his heart was. Gabriel gasped with horror and tears sprang to his eyes. “I almost lost you!” “I almost lost you too, in more ways than one. I know I don’t deserve you after what I did. Can you ever forgive me for doubting you?” “There’s nothing to forgive!” “Oh, Gabriel, I love you!” Their lips met and Gabriel melted into his arms. Cardoza jumped away from him. “Ay Díos Mío! Is that … your blood? You’re hurt, Gabriel!” He lifted Gabriel into his arms. “An ambulance is coming. Why didn’t you tell me? Here I was worried about my own little hurt!” “Put me down! I’m not a kid! Let me go!” Dottie held her gut as she laughed. “You want to change places with me, kid?”

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Chapter Twenty-Seven

C

ardoza stood outside of the interrogation room and listened as Detective DiPalma worked on Kelly. “So you insist that all of this was done by a mysterious Hispanic woman named Hilda?” Sarcasm dripped from DiPalma’s words. Kelly squirmed again. “You’ve got to believe me! It was her! I never even seen any of those girls! She’s getting away while you sit there like an idiot!” DiPalma shook her head. “We have officers covering the airport. We can’t do any better than that. We’re especially watching for flights headed for Latin American countries. But that doesn’t mean I believe you. That apartment you claimed belonged to your Hilda was actually rented to an older woman and her adult son. The pieces just don’t fit, Kelly.” “That just can’t be! I haven’t made a cent on this baby-selling crap! I’m not involved!” 218

Calor del Amor “What are the large deposits into your account? They were started just after the girl was murdered.” “I had nothing to do with that! She was trying to bribe me so I’d stay quiet, but it wasn’t the money, I swear to God! I’m sick! I have an addiction to sex. It’s like you can’t blame a sick person, and I’m very sick. That was my only downfall, I swear!” “And why did you try to kill Detective Cardoza? Why did you try to kill Gabriel Palacios? Was that part of your so-called disease?” DiPalma continued grilling him mercilessly. Kelly’s eyes shifted and he took a drink of water. “For the last time,” he sighed, “it was a Spic thing; Hispanics,” he corrected himself quickly. “All of the people involved were Hispanics. Gabriel Palacios worked for Hilda. I worked hard to find these answers, you know!” he finally sobbed. “Look at the way that kid killed his own father! Doesn’t it count that he was a police officer?” DiPalma looked as if she were about to answer, but Kelly went on talking. “When Cardoza met Gabriel Palacios he was on the right track, but he got taken in by him and they began an affair; yes, sad to say, they are both as queer as a three dollar bill. I wasn’t so sure that Cardoza knew that he was being used until he called me and asked me to come to the park. 219

K. B. Forrest When I got there, he was waiting with a gun. He confessed then, because he was sure I was going to be dead, but instead, I shot him in self-defense! The guy was going to kill me because I got too close to learning the truth! But I’m telling you; you got to catch Hilda before she takes off! She’s the evil bitch who’s got to pay for this!” “Save your breath, Kelly. We have eight girls who have identified you already. They all have the same story. There are neighbors who say they heard you bullying a woman in that apartment. I do believe that there was a woman involved, but according to the girls, she was forced into helping you. Finding her would only make the case against you stronger — that’s the only reason why we’re trying to find her.” She paused for effect. “The only problem is that I think we may never find her alive. Where’d you stash her body, Kelly?” “I knew it!” Kelly yelled, ignoring her question. “You have a weak case against me!” “Not at all. It’s true that we’d like to know where those babies went to, and you covered your tracks really well, but as I see it, you’re looking at enough time so that you’ll never see the light of day. All those girls will testify that you killed the pregnant teenager, and besides, we have Cardoza, Gabriel Palacios, and Dorothy Manichino, the landlady, as witnesses that you attempted to 220

Calor del Amor murder them.” Cardoza turned from the one-way window and smiled. Kelly could lie all he wanted to, but nobody would ever believe him. Now all he wanted to do was to be with Gabriel and help him to understand how much he loved him. He might have to work hard to win back Gabriel’s trust, but there was nothing in the world he wanted to do more. He only wished he could have killed Jake Connerly with his own hands, saving Gabriel from the horror of what he’d had to endure seeing his own father die right in front of him. He wanted to give Gabriel the life he deserved and he wanted to share it with him. **** The airport was swarming with police who were looking for a woman who met the description Kelly had given them. It wasn’t that anybody believed that she was the mastermind behind the plot, but still, Cardoza and DiPalma felt that it was worth it to find her, if she could help them tie up the loose ends. A pair of officers eyed passengers boarding a flight to Argentina. They stopped any woman who was even close to the description they’d gotten. They’d had no luck so far, but then they saw a very pregnant woman with her arm 221

K. B. Forrest entwined with that of an enormous man whose skin was the color of freshly ground coffee. They smiled at her and she blushed, shyly looking down. “Wow!” One cop whispered to the other. “What a looker!” “Yeah man, I would have checked out her papers just to get a chance to get a closer look, but pregnant as she was …” “Damn. Her husband is a lucky stiff.” “I’ll bet he’s very stiff.” **** “Oh Dottie! I owe you my life!” Gabriel hugged the broad woman. “Forget about it! Thanks to you, I got be a cop for a day! It was great to hold a gun and even to practice a bit of that ole ‘police brutality!’” “You gave Bernie a black eye!” “Well I would’ve given him worse if I’d known what he done to you. I can’t believe he had a crush on you so bad that he had those guys wreck your apartment. And that stupid wanted poster! What a dumb gag for a college professor! I hear the college kicked him out!” “I’m glad. I wouldn’t like to have him as a professor.” Dottie grabbed Gabriel by the shoulders. “You 222

Calor del Amor better study hard! Cartosa wants you to go to Harvard, and you better not disappoint him, hear?” “I really just want to write, but yeah. I need to go to college. He’s going to home-school me, so I don’t have to go back to high school!” “Listen, Gabriel, you may be an angel, but I’d watch Cartosa. He might want to teach you some x-rated stuff.” Dottie threw her head back and laughed. “I can handle him. Besides, I need to take notes for my work. I need more life experiences, he says.” “I’m so proud of you, Gabriel. Imagine! You’ll be my favorite porn writer!” “It’s not porn, it’s Yaoi. That’s kind of different,” Gabriel protested. “Your mother would be so proud! Imagine, a porn writer for a kid!” “I wish my mom …” “Hey! She’s in heaven right now, happy for you and Cartosa. Don’t think like that. I know you’re sad ‘cause you’re an orphan and all, but from now on, I’m your mom, okay?” She took Gabriel into her arms and gave him a bear hug. “Me and you can share Cartosa, right?” “Stop that Dottie! But honestly, it’s amazing that Alejandro was able to get all of those girls asylum! They’re doing great. Did you know that 223

K. B. Forrest Panchita has an office job now? Maria also found work as an interpreter at the Department of Immigration and Naturalization.” Dottie smoothed out the blouse over her ample bosom. “That Cartosa is a hell of a guy. Now those kids will be able to grow up here.” “Dottie, I can’t wait to visit Puerto Rico! I have a lot of family there that I haven’t even met! I’m so excited! Isn’t Alejandro great to invite you too?” Gabriel wasn’t annoyed that Dottie had managed to talk him into taking her for a vacation as a reward for saving him. “You bet! I’m glad Cartosa’s folks have a place big enough for all of us. I’ve never been nowhere like that. I got a sexy bikini to wear. Say, do they have nude beaches there? Maybe me, you, and Cartosa could go. We’d sure turn some heads!” She giggled at the thought. “Imagine me in between two handsome hunks! You both better keep away from me, or I’ll take you both on and show you what a threesome …”

224

Calor del Amor

Epilogue

G

abriel couldn’t believe Alejandro had a place like this. It was beautifully decorated and clean. Even though it wasn’t his first time there, Gabriel wandered from room to room looking at paintings, but he was especially fascinated by the antique weapon collection. “Gabriel! What are you doing? You leave me alone in the kitchen? Hey!” “Okay! Okay! Wow! You have such a neat place.” “I hire someone to clean.” Gabriel sat on a barstool and watched as Alejandro browned the achote seeds he was going to use for spicing. “I don’t mean that only. I like your collections.” “Yeah, well I got more at my father’s estate in Puerto Rico. I’ll show you when we go there.” Gabriel realized how hungry he was when he saw the food. He lost quite a bit of weight during his ordeal, and he had to spend several days in the 225

K. B. Forrest hospital because of the wound in his thigh. He picked at the salad. “Hey! I’m almost done cooking, quit picking!” Alejandro smacked his hand and directed him to the table, where a beautiful flower arrangement sat. “I’m going to put some weight on you, my little angel!” “Quit calling me that!” As they ate, Gabriel asked about Puerto Rico. Alejandro seemed absorbed in telling his stories. He had set out wine for himself, and soda for Gabriel, but as Alejandro spoke, Gabriel surreptitiously poured wine for himself. He didn’t like being treated like an underage kid, even though the wine kind of sucked after he tasted it. Soon they were full, and Gabriel started to pick up the dishes. “How much wine did you sneak?” Alejandro had a stern look on his face. “Um … you noticed? Just two glasses. It sucked.” “What! That was very expensive stuff! But you have committed a crime, and so as a detective, I place you under arrest. Start walking up those stairs!” “Oh come on! I want to watch anime with you. It’s still early! Cut it out!” Gabriel knew what Alejandro wanted to do upstairs. He felt himself getting hard. They hadn’t been together much 226

Calor del Amor since that first night, and it had been a long wait for both of them. “Now! Get up those stairs. If you accrue enough good behavior, you might be allowed to watch some of those damn Japanese cartoons later!” “Alright already!” They walked up the stairs and into the bedroom, where the lights had been dimmed and it smelled of fresh flowers. “You will be strip-searched now, so get the clothes off!” “You first, Alejandro!” “I’m the arresting officer! That is absurd!” “You first, I’m too shy!” “Okay, if you don’t understand how to do it, I will demonstrate.” Alejandro began to remove his clothes theatrically as Gabriel laughed. Tears came down his eyes as his lover did a few striptease moves. “Now you!” Gabriel still couldn’t get over his shyness, especially when he was looking at Alejandro, whose cock was so stiff that it almost touched his belly. He wanted to keep looking at that muscular body and handsome face, but he just couldn’t take off his clothes! “I will, but only if you turn off the light!” “Enough of this! You are resisting arrest!” 227

K. B. Forrest Alejandro grabbed Gabriel’s jeans and unzipped them. He pulled them off and yanked the t-shirt over Gabriel’s head. He pulled down Gabriel’s briefs, and made him step out of them. Gabriel blushed deeply as his swollen cock was exposed. “Stop!” “No! You broke the law, and now you have to play … I mean pay!” Alejandro pushed him onto the bed forcefully, and fell upon him, kissing him so expertly, that Gabriel almost forgot himself. Then he felt the handcuffs click, and he pulled against them. “Alejandro! You’re a pervert! You really want to cosplay! Hentai! Ecchi wa socchi! “Sorry, we have no Japanese interpreters here. By the way, what kind of dirty cartoons do you watch? Ha! I bring charges against you for that too!” Gabriel had to laugh at the ridiculous situation, but he stopped as he saw Alejandro pick up and squeeze a plastic bottle. “Wha … what’s that for?” “It’s lube. You know, girls get wet naturally, but we need some help in this department. It makes it easier.” “Um … okay, but I don’t think it will work. Your thing is way big and … well, you know, it’s never going to fit. We better not … uh … try … nnn” 228

Calor del Amor Alejandro was already rubbing him, and he had that gleam in his eye. Gabriel felt a finger push in and he yelped. “Stop! Get out of there! Maybe your finger can fit, but that huge cock of yours …” Two fingers pushed in deeper now and Gabriel struggled to move away. Alejandro pinned him with his heavier body as he continued to massage deeper. “No! No! Ahh … Oh!” The fingers had found something in there that responded. He never knew such a thing was in there. He was seized with electric sensations and his cock twitched on its own. The fingers rubbed that place and Gabriel threw back his head, unable to bear the feeling overtaking him. His cock seemed to be crying with ecstasy as drops of precum dripped out. He moaned and thrashed. Alejandro bent over him, his erotic, hooded eyes intent on him as he licked and then nibbled his nipples until Gabriel felt he would blow up. He covered Gabriel’s mouth with his as they kissed deeper. Gabriel’s body began to tremble as his balls screamed for release, but Alejandro held him by the base of his cock. “Not yet!” His raspy voice was arousing and his eyes shone with wild passion. His fingers came out and Gabriel panted to catch his breath. “No more, please, I can’t take it!” Alejandro removed the handcuffs, and 229

K. B. Forrest straddled Gabriel so that his legs were spread wide, and bent them at the knees, even as he struggled weakly. “I’ll show you how it’s really done, my angel.” Gabriel wanted him to stroke that golden spot inside of him again, but he was alarmed at the size of the thing that would do it. Fingers were okay, but not that that! He watched as Alejandro slicked his cock with lube, and then he held his breath as the pressure began. The stinging, burning pain kept him from moving. Then a dull pain in his back made tears come to his eyes. He felt very, very full suddenly. “Relax, Gabriel, it will only hurt at first. Big things come out of there all the time. Don’t tense up, just push out, and loosen up.” Gabriel complied, but he felt as if he were tearing apart. He gripped handfuls of sheet. “Nng … nnn …” “There. The head is in. Now I will go in further. Hold on, I promise it will be better.” Alejandro gently kissed his sweating brow and smoothed the long hair out of Gabriel’s face. Gabriel felt less pain now as it went deeper. Alejandro dragged him to the end of the bed and pulled Gabriel’s legs up over his shoulders. Gabriel’s eyes were wide with apprehension. In this position, it went in all the way. They both panted. Alejandro pulled out most of the way and 230

Calor del Amor squeezed more lube onto himself. “I … I feel like I have to go. Please stop. There’s too much inside me!” Gabriel didn’t move away, although he protested. When he thrust in this time, Gabriel yelped again, but in passion, as that spot lit up his entire body. Warmth rushed through him, and Alejandro thrust again, this time harder and he bent to kiss him. After finding that sweet spot, he began to thrust with animal passion, and Gabriel pushed forward to meet his attacks. Alejandro’s tight balls smacked against his bottom as they came together, and Gabriel’s passion was fueled. Even though he looked delirious with pleasure, Alejandro used one hand to pull and stroke Gabriel’s cock in a rhythm with his own. Suddenly he arched his back and came again and again in one mighty stab inside of Gabriel, who felt spasms of pleasure rock him. He yelled out and scratched at Alejandro’s quaking back as he came violently. Alejandro kissed him softly as he lay on top of him. “Now you have been loved for the first time, Gabriel. This was the real thing.” Gabriel felt him slip out, followed by wetness that began to ooze out. “I know you don’t like that stuff, so let’s get you cleaned up.” Alejandro lifted him easily, and he didn’t protest as he was bathed like a baby and then carried to a Jacuzzi. He was so weak and 231

K. B. Forrest drained that he doubted his legs would work anyway. Alejandro joined him. “Was it okay for you? For me it was heaven.” He looked deeply into Gabriel’s eyes. “It was awesome. I liked it after the pain stopped. I might have a sore butt for a week though! But it was good research for my Yaoi book. I didn’t know how to write about … you know, doing it.” “Hey! So you used me! You used me for research! Do I look like some kind of guinea pig?” They laughed together and soaked in each other’s arms until Gabriel fell asleep against Alejandro’s broad chest. **** Cardoza kissed Gabriel’s forehead gently as he tucked him into bed. He realized what had been missing from his life. He looked down upon his beloved and his heart overflowed with tenderness, and with a strange feeling he’d never experienced before. He was finally in love. Really in love. This wasn’t just the lust he had experienced before. He now knew the difference. He had done a little research of his own! THE END

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About the Author KB Forrest received a Ph.D. from Harvard University, and is presently working on a postdoctoral dissertation on the Ancient Near East. KB is a trained anthropologist, who uses those skills to create realistic worlds in both the past and the present. KB Forrest enjoys researching Japanese myth and folklore, and spending time with real and imaginary creatures.