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    Black Hearts Dance, a Layton Shayne Mystery
    Black Hearts Dance, a Layton Shayne Mystery
    Black Hearts Dance, a Layton Shayne Mystery
    Ebook476 pages8 hours

    Black Hearts Dance, a Layton Shayne Mystery

    By Gerald Lopez

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    About this ebook

    Detective Layton Shayne and his partner Alex are back, and working on a new case. While out with friends, the two catch the eye of a mysterious older woman who hires Layton to investigate the hauntings on her estate, Carson Court. Not only is Layton intrigued... he also feels compelled to take the job. New surprises greet him and Alex at every corner as they meet the hunks and mysterious citizens living in and around Carson Court. Layton knows to listen to his instincts, but this time could that lead to trouble of a supernatural nature in a house with a dark past and secrets desperate to come out?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGerald Lopez
    Release dateDec 27, 2015
    ISBN9781310926815
    Black Hearts Dance, a Layton Shayne Mystery
    Author

    Gerald Lopez

    Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for Gerald—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.

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      Book preview

      Black Hearts Dance, a Layton Shayne Mystery - Gerald Lopez

      Copyright © 2015, 2016 by Gerald Lopez

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      Cover Art Copyright © 2015 by Gerald Lopez

      Acknowledgments

      My special thanks go to the following:

      To John for his helpful comments and suggestions.

      To my wonderful Beta readers, Joyce, Johanna, Rich, Brandi, and Diane, for their comments, and often extremely helpful suggestions.

      And to my best friend J. C. for always being there.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Chapter 25

      Chapter 26

      Chapter 27

      Chapter 28

      Chapter 29

      Chapter 30

      Chapter 31

      Chapter 32

      Chapter 33

      Chapter 34

      Chapter 35

      Chapter 36

      Chapter 37

      Chapter 38

      Chapter 39

      Chapter 40

      Chapter 41

      Chapter 42

      Chapter 43

      Chapter 44

      Chapter 45

      Chapter 46

      Chapter 47

      Chapter 48

      Chapter 49

      Chapter 50

      Chapter 51

      Chapter 52

      Chapter 53

      Chapter 54

      Chapter 55

      Chapter 56

      Chapter 57

      Chapter 58

      Chapter 59

      Chapter 60

      Chapter 61

      Contact the author

      About the author

      Other books by Gerald Lopez

      Black Hearts Dance

      A Layton Shayne Mystery

      Chapter 1

      Surprises for Layton

      I WAS TIRED, from the last case I’d just finished. But I was also happy, relaxed, and content sitting next to my sweet partner in love, and now work, Alex Shayne. Even though we’d known each other only a short amount of time, I’d not only given him my heart but also my last name. Solving mysteries together and dealing with the supernatural has a way of creating a quick bond between people. Alex and I were having tea with our friends Jimmy and Frankie in The Secret Garden Tea House in Mt. Ore, Florida. The tea and the company was stimulating and satisfying.

      I like it in the South much better than out West where I’m from, I told the others, who were busy eating sweets from one or another of a matching duo of three-tier plate stands in the center of the table. Each stand held three plates decorated with hand painted floral designs, that earlier in our meal had contained a variety of delicacies including: sandwiches and scones. Now the only items remaining were slices of sponge cake with strawberry jam filling and powdered sugar on top, and fruit-filled pastries. The largo from Vivaldi’s Concerto in D was playing in the background and I lost myself in the music for a moment or two.

      This piece by Vivaldi is a favorite of mine, Alex said. You’re certainly getting into it, Layton.

      What’s not to like, it’s Vivaldi, Frankie said. Have you heard it before, Layton?

      Don’t laugh, I said, then smiled. I’m listening to the music and picturing Connie Sellecca and a giant sea turtle.

      Jimmy laughed, then spoke. Oh my God, I remember that old movie. I knew I recognized the music from somewhere. It was the best thing about the flick, besides the cute guy on the beach.

      He really was kind of cute, I said. And I remember liking the flick. It was cheesy, but good cheesy. A stray long hair hung down in front of my eyes and I brushed the sandy blond strand back with my hand.

      It’s almost time for you to find a barber, Alex said, before he smiled at me in a way that always melted my thirty-five-year-old heart and made me feel like a kid again.

      Don’t tell me the bloom is off the rose… and so early in the relationship, Frankie said. Jimmy and I are a newer couple than the two of you and we still find each other to be flawless. He looked at Jimmy and winked.

      "I do seem to remember Jimmy being pretty flawless during the time we had our short-lived tryst—before he became totally captivated by you, Frankie," I said, trying to be funny.

      Jimmy laughed. It wasn’t quite that way. I remember being a little reluctant to leave your side, Layton.

      What? Frankie said.

      I can vividly recall the looks Frankie gave you the minute he laid eyes on you at his grandfather’s clothing shop in Louisiana, Jimmy, I said. And how could you not be attracted to a walking, talking, Greek God? Just look at his thick black hair, perfect tan… and that body. I’d thought Frankie was the most handsome man I’d ever seen when we first met… and my Alex the most beautiful.

      Italian, not Greek, Frankie said. I’m Italian, remember, Layton. As for the rest of what you said—it’s absolutely correct.

      You two do make a pretty darn perfect couple, Alex said.

      And so do we, I said, putting my arm around Alex’s shoulders. Like I said, Frankie and Jimmy are flawless… but we, my love, are pure perfection. I’m all rough and grungy and you’re a beautiful angel come down to Earth.

      Now, would I, Francisco Torrea, be having tea with a man I thought was grungy? If we were both single men, I might make a play for you, Layton—but we’re not. I believe everyone at this table has happily found their other half.

      I know I have, I said. We’re lucky men, Frankie.

      So are we to have found the two of you, aren’t we, Jimmy? Alex said.

      Oh yeah, Jimmy said. I’m with the man of my dreams and we’re running a successful restaurant together—what more could I want?

      Another table in the tea house caught my attention. I tuned out the conversation and looked casually toward two women who were having tea at the other end of the room. The younger woman wore a wide-brimmed white hat, and had light pink hair styled in soft waves about chin length. Her face was chubby, but perfectly made up with glossy pale lipstick and the right amount of eyeliner and eyeshadow. I was impressed. From where I sat, I had a side view of her. She was heavyset, probably around two hundred pounds, but very pretty. The tailored, knee-length dress she wore was done in a bold and bright floral print with a lot of pinks in it. I wondered what my fashion-conscious cousin Vanessa would think of the outfit. To me it was a flattering dress and cheerful-looking compared to the outfit her companion wore.

      I’d eaten my slice of cake while watching the women and the bite-size pastry with apricot filling on my plate was calling out to me, so I turned and picked it up. While I savored the warm filling, I focused on the pink-haired woman’s companion. She was significantly older and her facial features were unusually asymmetrical which made me think she might have had a stroke. Still, there was a regal quality about her. In contrast to the other woman’s bright colors, she was dressed in a subdued gray jacket and matching pants… even the hat she wore was gray. The only color in her entire ensemble was the floral brooch on her lapel that looked expensive and was composed of what appeared to be multi-colored gemstones rather than cheap rhinestones. I wished my cousin were here, she’d know for sure. Even though I’d been an attentive student when Vanessa had taught me how to tell a lot about people from how they dressed, she was still the undisputed master at such things. The brooch was saying something to me and the piece itself seemed familiar… but I wasn’t sure what the inanimate thing was trying to say or why it stood out in my mind. It always irked me when I couldn’t place where I’ve seen a person or an object, so I moved on to the woman’s thin face with high cheekbones. Her makeup seemed almost caked on and her blue eyeshadow was overdone as was her matte, brownish-red lipstick.

      Hello… earth to Layton, Jimmy said.

      I’m sorry, I said. Did I miss anything?

      No, that’s OK, Jimmy said. I was just saying that Frankie and I are hoping you guys will be in the area longer this time. We didn’t insist you stay with us again since we knew Alex wanted to see the inn. How many days will you two be staying there?

      To be honest, I haven’t made reservations yet, I said.

      The Mt. Ore Inn is very popular around here, Frankie said. You can’t count on just walking up to the registration desk and getting a room.

      I was perturbed now and automatically reacted in my usual way—by curling and clenching my toes in the fancy leather sandals I wore. The sandals had been a gift from Miss Lucy on my last case. I actually preferred my plain flip-flops, but wanted to break in the leather sandals—they were still too new to be completely comfortable . What a character that Miss Lucy was—even just thinking about her made me want to laugh.

      I caught Alex as he looked down at my toes.

      I’ve learned how to tell when Layton’s upset, Alex said to Frankie and Jimmy. His cute toes are curled under—his stress goes downward.

      Better to his toes than elsewhere, Jimmy said.

      I gave Alex my sad puppy dog look. The thought of not getting a room at the inn when I knew he was looking forward to it genuinely upset me… I wanted so badly to always make him happy. "I’m sorry, babe. I did actually think we could just walk right up to the desk and get a room. That was stupid thinking on my part, I guess."

      You sound tired that’s all, Layton, Alex said.

      Too much running around solving supernatural or paranormal mysteries, Detective Shayne, Frankie said.

      Excuse me, is someone at this table a detective specializing in the supernatural? It was the older woman I’d been looking at, and she was standing next to our table leaning on a cane made of a dark wood. The younger woman was at her side.

      Hello, Mrs. Carson, Frankie said. It’s so nice to see you.

      Why thank you, Francisco, Mrs. Carson said. Hello, Jimmy. It’s nice to see that you’ve gotten a break from the kitchen. You work much too hard. But, having said that, my granddaughter Elise and I are big fans of your food.

      Can’t you tell, Elise said, patting her stomach and smiling at everyone.

      I love your hair, Elise, Alex said.

      Thank you, so much, Elise said, and smiled.

      Francisco, my love, why don’t you introduce us to your handsome friends? Mrs. Carson said.

      This is Mrs. Isabel Carson and her granddaughter Elise Riley. Mrs. Carson and Elise, please meet our good friends Detective Layton Shayne and his partner Alex Shayne. Jimmy and I have them to thank for our lives… and for bringing us together.

      Aw shucks, it was nothing, I said shyly, while still wondering why the brooch Mrs. Carson wore looked so familiar. Unfortunately, her name didn’t ring a bell with me.

      Oh, pishposh, Mrs. Carson said. Humility is for ugly people and losers. You don’t strike me as either, Detective.

      I liked this woman already.

      Grandma, can I get you a chair? Elise said.

      I can stand for a few minutes. The stroke robbed me of my looks, and most of my strength, but for now I can stand—with the help of this cane. She turned to me and Alex. I used to be beautiful in my day, and quite the fag hag. Gay men like beautiful things and I was a beautiful thing at one time.

      Grandmother! Elise said.

      I know the group I’m talking to, girl. They’re happily partnered men. They don’t mind if I’m frank with them. Do you mind, Detective?

      I actually prefer it when people are brutally honest, Ma’am, I said.

      Good because I’m as brutal and honest as they come, Mrs. Carson said, then smiled. I’ll get down to business. I’m trying to sell my family home Carson Court. It’s a rambling old place and too much for me to handle. The problem is that the property is, for lack of a better word… haunted.

      It sounds to me like a job for an exorcist or a priest, I said, trying to provoke a reaction to see what she was all about.

      I’m not a foolish old woman, Detective, Mrs. Carson said. Don’t think my home hasn’t been visited by a priest or others who tried to help—to no avail. The house isn’t so quick to tell its secrets. Come by, check everything out, and decide if you want to take on the case. I can pay.

      Carson Court is an impressive estate, Frankie said. Jimmy and I like Mrs. Carson, too. You’d be doing a good deed.

      And getting paid, Mrs. Carson said. You are in business, aren’t you?

      She doesn’t mean to pressure you, gentlemen, Elise said. Things have been getting steadily worse at Carson Court since the decision was made to put the estate on the market. I’m not sure what’s happening. There are a lot of unsolved mysteries related to my family’s home. It could be someone trying to sabotage the sale who is deliberately causing problems, or there really could be something supernatural behind everything. She held onto the back of the empty chair next to her for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts, then continued. All I know is that I’m starting to get really concerned for my grandmother. She’s already had one stroke.

      I looked up at the two women, silently studying their faces. Something had drawn me to them earlier, and now they were asking for my help. At this time in my life, I knew enough to trust my instincts… and something deep inside my being compelled me to help them.

      I’ll take the case, Mrs. Carson, I said.

      Thank you, Detective, Mrs. Carson said. You can follow Elise and me back to Carson Court, if you like.

      I’m a bit underdressed to call on such a prestigious sounding address, I said, then lifted my foot to show my expensive, but still casual sandals.

      At least he’s wearing his nice, new, leather sandals and not flip-flops, Frankie said.

      Hush, Francisco, Mrs. Carson said. Layton—I may call you ‘Layton’?

      I’d like that, Mrs. Carson, I said.

      Layton, you look fine, Mrs. Carson said. We’ve never been that fussy at the court.

      Lucky for us there’s no dress code, Alex said. "We do actually own nice clothes, Mrs. Carson."

      Oh, darling boy, Mrs. Carson said. Dress codes and rules don’t apply to handsome and beautiful men like Layton and yourself. Beautiful people make up their own rules. Someone as good-looking as Layton can walk around half nude if he wants. Who on Earth would complain? Certainly not me.

      Grandmother! Elise said, before turning to me and the other men at my table. I wish I could blame what my grandmother said on her stroke, but she still has her wits… and Lord knows she has her opinions.

      Good, I said. There’s nothing I like more than an opinionated woman. If you’ll give us a few minutes, we’d be happy to follow behind you in our truck. Oh, you might want to give us directions as well.

      Alright, Mrs. Carson said. I’m going to use the ladies room, but Elise can give you directions to Carson Court.

      I can do that, Mrs. Carson, Jimmy said.

      Thank you, Mrs. Carson said. We’ll meet you handsome gentlemen outside then. Take your time and don’t rush on our account. Oh, Alex, feel free to take pictures of the house while you’re there. Maybe we can use one or two of your pictures in the listing. Layton and Alex, you will be staying with us of course?

      But of course, I said, in a matter-of-fact way. It felt like the most natural response to her question even though we’d only just met and she was essentially a stranger to me.

      Grandmother, Elise said. "You can’t ask a famous photographer like Alex Kennedy—I’m sorry Alex Shayne, to take pictures for our listing. It’s beneath him. Alex, my grandmother and mother own several of your framed photographs and the three of us are fans of your work."

      In that case, I’d be happy to take some pictures of your home, Mrs. Carson, Alex said, then he smiled at Mrs. Carson. It’ll give me a chance to practice some photo techniques.

      Thank you so much, Alex, Elise said, before she turned to her grandmother. Come on, Grandma, I’ll help you to the ladies room.

      It was nice meeting you both, I said.

      Likewise, Mrs. Carson said. We’ll see you in a bit.

      Yes, Ma’am, I said.

      As soon as they were gone, I sat back in my chair with a big, satisfied grin on my face. New cases always invigorated me.

      That certainly seemed to bring you back to life, Alex said.

      He’s a man in his element, Frankie said. There’s a mystery—or rather, more than one mystery to solve in regard to Carson Court.

      Do you want to know the details or be surprised? Jimmy said. Frankie and I haven’t been here long, but we’ve heard some of the stories about the place—forbidden romance, multiple murders—you name it, the stories are there.

      And stories are all they are, Frankie said. And crazy theories. Jimmy and I are catering a party there tomorrow night. When people heard we took the job, they told us all kinds of crazy tales as a sort of warning to tread carefully on the grounds of Carson Court—even strangers came into the restaurant just to warn us about the court.

      What do you think of the estate? Alex said.

      "It is unique and Impressive, Frankie said. Smaller than your old family holdings, Alex, but still unique. Would you and Layton like to know more?"

      No, I said. I’m a man who likes to see things for myself… fresh—with no preconceived notions. There’s nothing I need to be warned about is there? No blue lights like in Shelby, or zombies like we dealt with in this area?

      The place is supposed to be haunted, so it’s hard to say what you’ll find, Jimmy said. I hope you like surprises… because the one thing you’re bound to be is surprised.

      Chapter 2

      Where There’s Smoke

      ALEX AND I said our good-byes to Frankie and Jimmy and went to catch up with Mrs. Carson and Elise. I could smell the whiff of cigarette smoke in the air the minute we were out the door.

      That’s Grandma smoking, Elise, who was standing in front of us, said. I can’t stand the smell, which is why she’s sitting on the bench and I’m here.

      Do you mind if I go sit with Mrs. Carson, Layton? Alex said.

      No, go right ahead, I said. Alex, why don’t you walk Mrs. Carson back to her car, when she’s ready, while Elise and I talk?

      No problem, Alex said.

      I couldn’t resist taking a quick look at his sexy feet in flip-flops. God, I love when a man with nice feet wears flip-flops… and Alex was a real looker all the way around. He had a nice body and his, just above chin-length, wavy blond hair made him look angelic in my eyes.

      He’s cute, but he’ll end up smelling like cigarette smoke after sitting with my grandma, Elise said.

      That’s why they make washing machines and showers, I said, then looked at Elise and flashed her a flirty smile. Smoking’s a dirty habit, that’s why I’ve never even tried a cigarette. There’s no way for me to get addicted to the things if I never try one.

      Grandma’s from a different era, Elise said. She says she’s not addicted, but that she loves the taste of cigarettes. And she turned seventy-three this year, so I don’t think there’s a chance in hell I’m going to break her of the habit. At least she’s easy to find. Where there’s smoke… there’s Grandma.

      I like the old gal… and you too for that matter, I said.

      Everyone likes Grandma, Elise said. Thank you for saying you like me, too. Don’t worry if all this feels strange. Grandma has a way of picking up strangers and bringing them to her court.

      ‘Her court’, huh, I said. She’d just provided me with the opening I needed to ask a question I’d had in my mind earlier. Grandma doesn’t want to sell the place, does she?

      No, Elise said. What gave the game away?

      A comment that was made inside the tea house, I said. The way you said ‘the decision was made’, sort of implied that it wasn’t entirely your grandmother’s decision to sell the estate. If it was, you would’ve said ‘she’d’ made the decision.

      My mother pushed for it, Elise said. She’s been pushing for it since Grandpa died. Grandma does well enough in the place. There are people that visit her besides me and she does have live-in help and off-site staff. The problem is that I’m changing careers and will be attending beauty school out of state soon. My mother is a socialite in North Carolina and doesn’t have time between her parties and fund-raisers—what have you—to come down here and check on things as often as she feels is necessary.

      And your grandma didn’t feel like fighting the sale?

      She was convinced, by my mother, that it was time, Elise said.

      "And you’re not convinced?" I said, pretty sure I knew what her answer would be.

      Those two women in the same house will kill one another. Women can be just as territorial as dogs sometimes. North Carolina is my mother’s territory and Carson Court is my grandmother’s domain.

      A big smile formed on my face, Elise noticed and smiled back.

      What are you thinking, Layton? Do tell.

      I was just thinking about what you said. Who knew women were called bitches because they were territorial like dogs. We both laughed.

      I like you already, too, Layton, Elise said.

      She wrapped her arm around mine and led me to a black, four-door Jaguar Mark II.

      Nice car, I said, as I opened the driver’s door for Elise.

      It was Grandpa’s. He kept her in pristine condition. Grandma will never sell the car because of how much Grandpa enjoyed driving her.

      I see Alex bringing your grandma over, I said. I’ll be following behind in my less glamorous, but trusty truck. It belonged to my dad.

      You’re the sentimental sort, Elise said. I’m a little surprised by that.

      Don’t let my gruff exterior fool you, I said. I can be a real softy sometimes, for an ex-Marine.

      I thought there was no such thing as an ex-Marine, Elise said, sitting in the driver’s seat.

      There’s not really, and thank you for reminding me of that, I said. "I really like you now. I gave her a playful wink. I’d better touch base with your grandma, then head to my truck."

      Drive safe, Elise said. Oh, and Grandma makes me follow the speed limit, so it’ll take us a while to get there. We’re one town over, remember that.

      I will. And I follow the speed limit too—it saves on tickets.

      IT WAS silent in the truck as we started on our journey to Carson Court and our new case. Alex ran his hand through the back of my hair, which had grown a little below my shoulders. He then checked the length of my hair in the front.

      Don’t distract the driver, I said.

      Oops, sorry, did I block your eyes?

      You were stroking my hair, and that did things to me, I said. Things we can do nothing about right now.

      Oh, you’ve got sex on the brain, Alex said, and laughed.

      When I’m around you I always have sex on the brain.

      So do I, my sexy beast, Alex said.

      Exactly how beastly do I look, my angel boy?

      Not as bad as all that. I’ve decided I like your hair long. It’s thick, but straight, so it doesn’t look messy. Is it too long in the front for you? I noticed how you kept pushing your hair back and away from your forehead during tea.

      It does feel too long in front for me. Alex, I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you were alright with me taking on this case.

      I don’t see where you had the chance to ask. And I have a feeling Mrs. Carson would’ve worked her wiles on us anyway. Remember, I agreed to take pictures of the estate for her.

      Poor, baby, I said and put my hand on his bare knee. Well, look at the two of us in shorts, sandals, and flip-flops going to visit some fancy estate.

      We’re wearing nice Polo shirts and we don’t look raggedy, Alex said. Even the rich folks dress casually at home. Besides, ‘Dress codes and rules don’t apply to handsome and beautiful men’, or so your new clients says. He laughed.

      I laughed as well, then shook my finger at him in mock sternness. Don’t poke fun at the client.

      I’m not—well, actually I am, but I genuinely like Mrs. Carson. Is it strange to like someone right away like that? I mean, the woman looks almost like a combination of Bette Davis when she was near the end of her life and a Disney villainess. That eyeshadow alone reminded me of Cruella De Vil.

      Alex, that’s harsh, don’t you think?

      "It is! Geez, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it to be, I think I was more or less thinking out loud. The way Mrs. Carson carries herself reminds me of Bette Davis. There’s an air about her that draws you in, despite the fact that she’s older… and in her words, no longer the beauty she was. And I remember that Cruella had a lot of eyeshadow—you know the way they draw cartoons when the eyelid is heavy and big. I swear, Layton, I wasn’t trying to be mean."

      I believe you, I said, then held his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze for a moment to confirm I believed him. Mrs. Carson has a regal bearing about her, in my opinion. She’s a woman who’s accustomed to holding her own, I think. Alex, thank you for being by my side.

      Where you go, I go—forever, Alex said.

      Same here, I said. What do you think of this case, so far?

      It’s sudden. And Jimmy mentioned ‘forbidden love affairs’ and ‘murders’, so it does sound intriguing. I’m more than a little curious to see Carson Court.

      So am I. It must have one hell of a history if the folks in the area are all talking about the place.

      Layton, you might want to check in with Sassafras Jones. We’re supposed to meet with her in a few days.

      I’ll give her a call, I said, then chuckled to myself. Thinking of Sassy Jones reminds me of Miss Lucy. It’s hard to imagine that right now Miss Lucy is retraining our old friend Buck as a field agent. I almost feel sorry for Miss Lucy.

      Crazy ole’ Buck, Alex said. He was a great-looking guy and we did—

      What the three of us did was all in the line of duty as part of our cover—that’s all, I said.

      If I weren’t in the picture would you and Buck—

      Nope. He’s cute, but too crazy for me.

      And what about Frankie?

      Haven’t we been through all this before, I said. You’re not getting all jealous after everything we’ve been through. Jimmy, Frankie, you and me—we’re friends. We’ve been in their Jacuzzi with them naked, and you took photos of us naked for your next exhibit. Frankie and I even compared our tackle in front of you and Jimmy—hands off, of course. And as much as I like them, I don’t see the four of us engaging in a wild orgy anytime soon. My last comment made Alex smile and that was good.

      Sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Layton. Going to Carson Court sort of reminds me of my old life with my family. The memories of how I never really felt a part of it all—the social scene, the gay scene—what have you? Sometimes it all comes back to haunt me. I always felt like the outsider.

      You’re with the right guy, then, I said. "I’m not part of any scene. You’re my scene, my life, and my social world. I apologize if I was running at the mouth again about Frankie’s good looks. Honestly, I find the guy amazing to look at. But in a different way than I find you ‘amazing’. I really do think of him as a statue come to life. And, yes, I want to look—I’ve told you that before. But I have no desire to do. I’m perfectly happy with what I have with you. See, I find Alex Shayne to be the absolutely most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on and I very much want to do, touch, and kiss him." I reached for his hand again and held it. He responded by kissing my cheek.

      Thanks, Layton. You made me feel better. A little stupid, but better.

      You’re not stupid, just still insecure because of everything that’s happened to you. It wasn’t that long ago since your life changed in a big way, you know. Not even three weeks have passed since you met me—the love of your life, then escaped a cult, and fought zombies next to a handsome nutcase named Buck and a little person version of Dita Von Teese named Sassy. Did I mention you met the love of your life, who would do anything at all for you?

      Yes, but you forgot to mention meeting Charity and the supernaturally induced threesome we had with her which probably resulted in you impregnating her.

      Oh, what a beautiful day it is! I sang loudly.

      You’re going to have to face things sooner or later, Layton Shayne.

      "You used my last name that time… you’re serious. Listen, Alex, I have faced things and we’ve talked about them. The rest we can only handle as it comes. If Charity is pregnant—and she probably is, then we’ll deal with how to raise the baby or babies. But, we don’t have to deal with that right now, and I need a clear head to handle this case. You don’t need to worry about things that make you feel insecure, Alex Shayne—the man I gave my last name to and whom I hold more dearly than any future kids or case-related tricks."

      Alex laughed. Case-related tricks?

      Yeah—Buck. I just coined the phrase ‘case-related trick’ in honor of him. I do sincerely hope he’s doing well… I feel for the guy.

      So, do I. Give our mini Dita Sassy a call and tell her you’re on a case, so she knows.

      OK, if you’ll do me a favor.

      Alright, I promise to do you a favor… if it’s within reason.

      For the rest of this drive just focus on, and think about, all the sexy things you’re going to do to me when we’re all alone in a room at Carson Court.

      I can do that.

      I glanced at him and saw a sly smile appear on his face that made me feel like the luckiest man on the planet.

      Chapter 3

      Lucky Tuck

      LOOK AT that old home, Alex said, as we entered the outskirts of Moresville, the town where Carson Court was located. The porch is amazing! I’d love to take some pictures of it before we leave the area.

      We can do that, I said. There’s not much of a town here. I see a junk shop and a Mexican restaurant to the right of us next to a convenience store. And on our left we have an antiques shop with several metal sculptures on the front porch, including a cool dragon!

      That dragon is cool, Alex said. I like the red, flame-shaped piece of metal jutting out from his mouth. He paused and looked at the road ahead for a moment. From what I understand, this road is just a thoroughfare leading to the town center. I’m guessing this is the old burb where the rich folks lived. Maybe yuppies live in the homes now. Elise is turning left, Layton.

      I see that. Thanks, babe. Have I told you I love you today?

      Yes.

      OK, no need for me to say it again then. I grinned, then chuckled as I took a left turn and followed the Jaguar.

      Ha, ha, Alex said. You can tell me you love me all day and night if you want. You really are excited about this case, aren’t you?

      Y’up. It’s my first haunted house.

      "Layton… I love you too. Do you think that maybe there is something supernatural at work and that’s why you felt drawn to Mrs. Carson and Elise at the tea house, like you were telling me earlier?"

      Maybe. Does that frighten you?

      No. Should it?

      I don’t know yet, I said. Something is nagging at me that I can’t quite put my finger on… but it’s not a bad ‘nagging’. Meaning I don’t feel any warning signals. Let’s stay relaxed, but keep our eyes open. Hey, we know we’ll be eating well tomorrow since Jimmy and Frankie are catering Mrs. Carson’s shindig.

      That’s if we’re invited to the ‘shindig’. You can’t assume we will be.

      "I didn’t think of that—now I’m the stupid one. And you can feel less stupid—not that I ever thought or said you were stupid. Time to get myself out of the sticky situation I’d just placed myself in. This neighborhood is bigger than I thought it would be. The homes are nice and the lots are huge."

      Some of the homes are on at least a couple of acres, Alex said. They’re taking a right, Layton.

      You are a great navigator, honey. I quickly kissed the side of Alex’s neck—he tasted real damn good.

      Alex’s cell phone rang and he answered it, then turned to me. Layton, the shoulder-high brick wall coming up marks the start of the Carson property, it goes around the entire estate. Alex focused on his cell phone again. Thank you, Mrs. Carson, I’ll tell him. He closed his cell phone. We need to park in the side driveway.

      This brick wall is nice, I said. It’s only shoulder height, but look how it goes from solid bricks along the top rows then to a sort of open work design in the middle, then solid again at the bottom. Holy shit! This freakin’ house must sit on at least fifty acres… and in the city. Oh my God! Look at the porch! I pulled over on the curb for a moment

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