Page 70 of Mann Hunt
Declan lay on the bed with Luke’s head resting on his chest. Both men were spent. Declan said, “That was amazing. You’ve obviously had lots of practice.”
“Not as much as some,” Luke said, laughing as he poked Declan in the ribs. “I didn’t start ’til I was almost out of university.”
“Was that when you came out?” Declan asked.
“Oh, do we have to do this?” Luke replied, laughing as he struggled to get out of Declan’s leg hold. “All right. Coming out wasn’t as big a deal as I thought it was going to be, given that my family’s pretty right-wing. In high school I focused on grades and sports. I loved wrestling and basketball, and I was good at them.”
“Of course you were. Especially the wrestling, I bet.”
“Asshole.” Luke swatted Declan. “Anyway, there was nothing else to do. I grew up in a small town.
“I lived in residence at university where I was corrupted by the sins of alcohol and bar-hopping. By the end of first year I had fallen in love with a member of the intramural volleyball team, a physics major named Jamal. The thought of telling my parents that their son was gay scared the crap out of me. Jamal suggested that I should start by telling them I’d fallen in love with someone who was black, so that when I told them it was a guy, they’d be in such a state of shock, the gay part wouldn’t register.”
Declan released his leg hold on Luke. “So, how did it go?”
“When I finally got up the nerve to tell my parents, my mother just left the room and said to my father that it was obviously time.”
“Time for what?” Declan asked.
“Time for my dad to come out to me.”
“No fucking way!”
“Yup,” Luke responded. Luke sat up on the edge of the bed. “And Mom knew all along. They’d been best friends since elementary school, and they loved each other. He said if it wasn’t for her, her support, her brains and her good judgement, that he wouldn’t have accomplished a quarter of what he did.
“He claimed she always knew and, in spite of that, she still agreed to be his wife. He had a solid career, and my mom was happy to help him out as it gave her status. He was just lucky to marry his best friend. I’ll always remember what he said—’sex can be exciting and exhilarating, but it will never last. The key to a long relationship is friendship.’ And they did havesomesex, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Declan shook his head. “And they kept his secret all this time?”
“Yeah. And I’m hoping you will too. If this were to get out, it would kill my dad.”
“I won’t say a thing. I promise. Speaking of dads, I had a visit from mine today,” Declan said.
“Oh?”
Declan remained silent for a moment.
“Not a pleasant encounter, I assume?” Luke asked
“It never is when it’s a visit from the staff sergeant.”
“What was the problem?”
“Apparently he was ambushed by McKeckran at the Commissioner’s Lunch today. McKeckran made a scene about me meddling in a police investigation and he told my father to warn me that if he caught me doing it again, he’d arrest me on the spot.”
“God, that McKeckran is such a self-serving prick,” Luke said.
“Speaking of McKeckran, have you got anything new on the Mann case?”
“Just before you got here,” Luke started, “I had word that they found where he went into the river. They discovered a blood-covered rock. Whether he fell on it or was hit with it, they’re not sure yet. It’s in for testing. They also found his car. The trunk contained a suitcase filled with women’s clothing. Okay—I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours.”
Declan said, “The company that was trying to force Ian Mann to sell was called Monarch. I have reason to believe that they’re connected to the mob.”
“Monarch. Interesting…”
“Have you heard of them?”
Luke’s phone rang. He answered, “Yeah?… I understand… I gotta go.” Luke put his phone down and started to get dressed.
