L.A. Bytes (37 page)

Every panel. God knows how much damage it would have done.

Homeland isn’t talking. Guess they don’t want anyone to know how effective it is.”

Chris tightened his grip on David’s hand.

“It was Jean-Gabriel who delivered the bombs in the fl owers,”

David said. He pulled Chris’s hand open, stroking the palm.

“Terry put it together and realized what Adnan was doing. But they were one step ahead of him and they grabbed him and his wife and forced him to make that call to you. I really think Adnan was a reluctant terrorist at best. He wanted someone to pay for what they did to his father, but he was having trouble with the idea of killing so many innocent people. But once he’d killed his mother and Jean-Gabriel he no longer thought he had a choice.”

David shook his head. “I don’t think he killed Terry or his wife.

That one’s on his partner. That only added to his guilt.”

“How much trouble did Martinez get into?” Chris asked. “I mean, doing that... I’m just so sorry I hit him.”

David grinned. “He still can’t believe you did either. He got chewed a new one by the Lieutenant and if he hadn’t taken a bullet it might have gone harder on him. McKee still had to make an example of him. I think Booker, the Homeland Security guy, forced his hand on that. But his suspension’s a light one. Only a week, with pay. He’s taking his kids to Disneyland. So they love you, even if their father isn’t your favorite fan right now.” David tried to look stern. “Just be thankful he’s not pressing charges.

Hitting an offi cer is a serious offense.”

“Hmph, he should know better than to come between you and me.”

David just shook his head.

Chris helped David climb out of bed and enter the bathroom.

At the sink, David washed his hands and studied his refl ection in L.A. BYTES
323

the mirror. He stroked his mustache and tilted his head from side to side. He spoke with resignation.

“Lot’s more gray there.” He ran his fi nger along what was left of his moustache and the new hairs that were growing in. “Look at that. Pure white.”

Chris drew David’s head down and nibbled his mouth, slipping his tongue between David’s lips. David returned the kiss with an ardor that left Chris breathless. “Don’t you dare pluck that out—ten more will come to its funeral.”

David framed Chris’s face with his big hands. “Would you mind?”

“What do you think?” Chris whispered. “Go ahead, ask me to prove it. I don’t mind. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving I love you, gray hair or no hair. I don’t care.”

“Still, maybe it’s time to get rid of it.” David grinned tiredly.

“Everyone keeps saying I look like a seventies porn star.”

“Before my time. But if you want to take it off, I could get used to seeing your upper lip. Come on, you need to rest.”

Once back in bed, Chris tucked him in. David yawned.

“Okay, sleepyhead. Before you go off to happy land I got something for you.”

David watched Chris as he reached into the deep pocket of his silk robe. His eyes widened when he saw what Chris held in his hand.

“You gotta be more careful next time. Leaving this thing lying around, someone might think you didn’t care.”

David touched the St. Michael’s medal as Chris slipped it over his head.

“I got it to keep you safe.” Chris leaned in and kissed him, making sure it was a kiss he wouldn’t forget. “But you gotta wear it for it to work.”

“You make sure you talk to Abrahms,” David whispered. “If I don’t get out of here soon there’s going to be trouble.”

324 P.A. Brown

“Oh, we’ll be talking. Believe it.”

David pulled him down for another mind-numbing kiss.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAT BROWN was born in Canada, which she is sure explains her intense dislike of all things cold and her constant striving to escape to someplace warm. Her fi rst move took her to Los Angeles, and her fate was sealed. To this day she has a love/hate relationship with L.A, a city that was endlessly fascinating. L.A.

Heat and the even darker L.A. Boneyard grew out of those dark, compelling days.

She wrote her fi rst book at 17 – an angst ridden tome about a teenage girl hooked up with a drug user and went off the deep end. All this from a kid who hadn’t done anything stronger than weed. She read her fi rst positive gay book then too, The Lord Won’t Mind, by Gordon Merrick and had her eyes open to a whole other world (which didn’t exist in ultra conservative vanilla plain London, Ontario). Visit Pat on the internet at: http://

www.pabrown.ca/

THE TREVOR PROJECT

The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives though its free and confi dential helpline, its website and its educational services. If you or a friend are feeling lost or alone call The Trevor Helpline. If you or a friend are feeling lost, alone, confused or in crisis, please call The Trevor Helpline. You’ll be able to speak confi dentially with a trained counselor 24/7.

The Trevor Helpline: 866-488-7386

On the Web: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

THE GAY MEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT

Founded in 1994, The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, non-profi t organization founded by a gay male survivor of domestic violence and developed through the strength, contributions and participation of the community.

The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy and direct services.

Understanding that the serious public health issue of domestic violence is not gender specifi c, we serve men in relationships with men, regardless of how they identify, and stand ready to assist them in navigating through abusive relationships.

GMDVP Helpline: 800.832.1901

On the Web: http://gmdvp.org/

THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/

GLAAD EN ESPAÑOL

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

On the Web:

http://www.glaad.org/

GLAAD en español:

http://www.glaad.org/espanol/bienvenido.php