With fear and pure adrenaline coursing through his veins, Cayden King removed his clothes from the dryer. Glancing around the small, dark laundry room in the basement of his building, Cayden saw danger in every corner and a threat in every shadow.

He was certain that the pain he felt in his neck was psychosomatic and a reminder of what had happened to him when he first moved in. Trying to focus on getting all of his clothes into his basket, he told himself that he would fold them once he got upstairs. He didn’t want to spend another moment in the laundry room all by himself.

Reaching down for a sock that had fallen, Cayden snatched it up and turned with his basket toward the door, but dropped it in surprise. “Jesse,” he said, “you scared the crap out of me.” Sighing, Cayden bent over and picked up his basket and several items that had fallen out of it.

“You didn’t scream,” Jesse noted as he stood in the doorway. “You’re getting better at this.”

Cayden smiled and rolled his eyes. “That’s not exactly a good thing,” he responded. “You doing laundry?” He questioned.

“No,” Jesse responded, and Cayden realized that the other man was empty-handed.

“So what’s up? You like to visit dark places?”

“I saw you come down here,” Jesse responded.

“Did you want to talk about something?” Cayden questioned, feeling an unsettling vibe from the Hispanic. “I’m not sure if I have time. My friend’s coming over for the weekend,” Cayden explained. “He should be here any minute so I need to go and make sure my place is clean.”

Cayden approached the door, but Jesse made no move to allow him to pass by. Staring at the ground, Jesse began to speak. “I can’t do this anymore,” he said softly. “I can’t.”

“Do what?” Cayden questioned.

“Live without her,” Jesse responded as his eyes finally met Cayden’s gaze.

Cayden stared at him in silence, not knowing what to say. He felt bad for Jesse and he really wanted to give the guy a hug, but he didn’t know Jesse that well. He didn’t know anyone in this building all that well, for that matter.

“Did you find anything else?” Jesse questioned.

“What do you mean?”

“In her apartment?” Jesse responded. “Did you find anything else in Julia’s apartment. “She had a day planner. She wrote down all of her appointments in it. I used to tease her about it because she’d write stupid things in it like who she was meeting for lunch, even though she knew exactly who she was meeting and when. She was the kind of person that didn’t forget a single thing. I used to forget things,” Jesse said, his voice going low. “I forgot her eyes,” he explained. “How could I forget her eyes?”

Feeling slightly ill at ease, Cayden glanced past Jesse and at the door. He wanted to leave. He didn’t know how to deal with the situation and found himself hoping to escape. “I’m sorry,” he responded, “I didn’t find anything.”

In the back of his mind, Cayden considered telling Jesse about the diary that he kept. Jesse was probably the closet person to Julia Taylor, aside from Devon James. If anyone could interpret anything in the diary, it would be him.

“Well, did you look?” Jesse questioned. “Did you even try? You should let me look,” Jesse explained. “If she left something, I can find it. You don’t know how hard it is. You don’t know what it feels like. I sit in front of my canvas and I try to paint her eyes, but I can’t do it. I just can’t do it. And then when I fall asleep I dream about her, but the dream isn’t complete because there are dark spaces where her eyes should be, and there’s nothing there. There’s nothing there . . .”

Cayden felt the hair on the back of his neck begin to stand on end as fear set it. Jesse was obviously unstable and he realized that telling him about the diary would be a bad move. “I have to get back to my place,” Cayden whispered.

“I can’t be the only suspect in her murder,” Jesse explained. “There has to be someone else. Dammit!” He gasped. “You’re supposed to help me find her killer, that’s what she told me.”

“Jesse,” Cayden said softly as he took a step forward. “Calm down. I’ll help you find her killer,” he explained, although he wasn’t sure how he was going to do that. He only wanted to get out of the basement, and to do that, he needed Jesse to step out of the way. “I promise.”

Nodding, Jesse glanced down at the ground and stepped out of the way. “I’m sorry,” he whispered softly as Cayden rushed by.

Standing on the elevator, Cayden was glad to be away from Jesse Martinez. As the elevator came to a stop, Cayden glanced up as the doors opened and Kathryn Hayes stepped out of the lobby and onto the elevator.

“Hey,” she said as she juggled several bags and tried to press the button. She dropped two of her bags and Cayden chuckled, stepping forward and pressing the button for her.

“You have a lot of stuff,” Cayden noted.

“Oh, I know,” Kathryn responded. “I went shopping. I needed a whole new everything.”

As the doors closed, Cayden chuckled. “I wish I could afford a whole new everything.”

“You don’t need a whole new everything,” Kathryn responded. “What you need is some style advice.”

“Style advice?” Cayden repeated, slightly insulted.

“I don’t mean to offend you,” Kathryn said as she glanced over at him. “But I mean, come one,” she said as she reached forward and pulled a shirt out of Cayden’s laundry. “Flannel?” She held the shirt up for him to see. “I mean, I know you’re gay,” she said as she tossed the shirt back into Cayden’s basket, “but if you keep wearing that, people are going to think you’re a lesbian.”

Laughing, Cayden shook his head. “It’s comfortable.”

“It’s ugly,” Kathryn explained. “You should talk to Devon,” she said, “she can probably get you a good deal on some clothes. Definitely talk to Devon. She has an eye for fashion, she can hook you up. When I moved in and I realized that I needed a wardrobe makeover, she helped me. It was crazy, me Devon and Julia went out and tried on a bunch of clothes.”

“Something tells me that Devon and I don’t have the same taste in clothes,” Cayden responded, “and I don’t think we’re the same size,” he added with a smirk.

“No, silly,” Kathryn said as she swatted him on the arm. “Devon works at Q Boy.”

“Who boy?” Cayden questioned.

“Q Boy,” Kathryn repeated. “It’s only the hottest men’s fashion store in New York,” Kathryn responded, as if it was common knowledge. “They’ve got great metrosexual stuff. You should check it out.”

“Metrosexual?” Cayden inquired.

“What do they do to you people in New Hampshire?” Kathryn inquired. “Did you have television back home? You know, one of them boxes with moving pictures?”

“Of course we had television,” Cayden laughed, “but I didn’t really spend much time watching it.”

“Were you a nerd?” Kathryn questioned. “I bet you were a nerd.”

“Well thanks,” Cayden grumbled.

“No, it’s cool. Let me talk to Devon and we’ll schedule something. We’ll go shopping and get a bunch of great stuff for you. It’ll be a lot better than this flannel stuff you normally wear,” she said as the elevator doors opened.

“Hey,” Cayden said as he followed her out into the hall. “I like this flannel stuff that I wear.”

Turning on her heels, Kathryn glanced over at Cayden. “Why did you move to New York?” She questioned.

“For school,” Cayden responded, slightly confused.

“Not true,” Kathryn informed him. “You could have gone to school anywhere, but you chose New York. Why? Because you wanted to do something different, right? You wanted to try new things. You can’t try new things if you’re the same old person who wears the same old flannel shirts,” she explained.

“Maybe you’re right,” Cayden responded.

“Of course I’m right,” Kathryn called out as she continued down the hall. “I’m always right!”

Shaking his head, Cayden watched as Kathryn slipped into her apartment. He glanced down at his basket of laundry. “This is an ugly shirt,” he muttered under his breath and started past Gage’s door, heading to his apartment.

The door to Gage’s apartment was wide open as Cayden passed by and he heard a voice call out his name. “Cayden!” Gage yelled as he ran to his door. “Did you lose something?” He questioned.

“No,” Cayden responded as he glanced down at his laundry.

“Well, I found this stray dude sitting in the hall outside your apartment,” Gage said as he stepped aside and motioned to the guy standing in his living room.

When Cayden saw the guy standing there, his eyes lit up. “Mason!” He yelled and dropped his basket of laundry. “Oh my God!” Rushing past Gage, he reached for his friend and gave him a big hug. “You’re early!”

“Yeah,” Mason Weber responded as he gave his friend a hug. “I caught an earlier bus.”

Staring at the two friends, Gage shook his head. “You guys aren’t going to kiss, right? I just ate Taco Bell and I really don’t want to have to see what it looks like right about now,” he explained.

Laughing, Cayden pulled away from Mason. “We’re not going to kiss,” Cayden assured him. “Mason’s not into guys.”

“Great, that makes two of us,” Gage teased.

Cayden rolled his eyes and turned to Mason. “When did you get in?” He questioned.

“About an hour ago,” Mason explained. “I came straight here but you weren’t home so I waited outside your door and Gage saw me and invited me in.”

“I wasn’t trying to pick him up or anything,” Gage explained. “Because I’m not gay.”

“Shut up,” Cayden said with a smile.

“There’s so many places I want you to see,” Cayden explained. “We can go to the museum and this jazz café where they do poetry readings. We’re going to have so much fun,” Cayden informed him.

“Boring,” Mason responded. “I didn’t come all the way down here to look at paintings or listen to crappy poetry,” he explained. “This is New York, Cayden. I want to have some fun.” He crossed over to Gage and put his arm around him. “Gage invited me to a bar, we should go.”

“Mason, we’re eighteen. We can’t get into a bar.”

“Relax,” Gage assured him. “If you’re with me, you can get in.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Cayden said as he shook his head.

“Then try not to think,” Mason assured him. “Now come on,” he said as he grabbed his bag. “I need to take a shower and get ready. Oh, and Gage, I’m taking you up on that challenge we talked about earlier. There’s no way that you can out drink me,” he explained as he slipped into the hallway.

Standing in Gage’s apartment, Cayden glanced at Mason, then back at Gage and smiled despite the fact that on the inside, he felt like someone had just taken a sledgehammer to his head. After everything that had happened to him since he moved to New York, all Cayden really wanted to do was spend a little time alone with his best friend.

“What?” Cayden King yelled. “I can’t hear you!” The sound of the music in the background was really starting to grate on his nerves. The club was packed, with people in every corner. Just trying to get to the bar was like battling an entire army. “What did you say?” He questioned again.

“I said the music is great!” Mason responded.

“You want some steak?” Cayden repeated.

Mason laughed and pulled Cayden close. “I said the music is great,” he said into his friend’s ear. “Gage really knows where all of the fun places are.”

“Yeah,” Cayden grumbled under his breath. “Gage is great.”

At the bar, Gage waved to Mason and Mason rushed to join him, but Cayden remained where he was standing. “Gage is great,” he grumbled. “He’s awesome. He’s like the coolest guy I’ve ever met. I want to have his babies. I’m going to marry Gage. Gage. Gage Gage.”

“Are you okay?” Dominick Perrotti questioned as he stepped up behind Cayden and a slow song began to play. Startled, Cayden turned around.

“I’m fine,” Cayden responded.

“You’re getting married?” Dominick questioned, slightly confused.

Glancing over his shoulder at Gage and Mason drinking shots at the bar, Cayden sighed. “I’m getting divorced,” Cayden responded.

“I don’t get it,” Dominick commented.

“Me either,” Cayden agreed.

“So what brings you out?” Dominick inquired.

“My friend from back home came to visit so we’re taking him out.”

Dominick glanced past Cayden and at the bar. “He seems to be having a good time,” he noted, “so how come you look so depressed?”

Cayden shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he explained.

“Liar,” Dominick retorted.

“It’s going to sound childish,” Cayden warned him.

“Try me.”

“Okay, but don’t say that I didn’t warn you,” Cayden explained. “I wanted to spend some time with my best friend, you know, just the two of us. Instead, he wants to hang out with some guy that lives in my building. Don’t get me wrong, I kinda like the guy, but . . . I don’t know, I feel like a third wheel.”

“Your friend’s more interested in hanging out with your neighbor than he is with you,” Dominick noted.

“It seems that way,” Cayden admitted.

“It doesn’t sound childish,” Dominick smiled. “It sounds like you miss your friend.”

Glancing at the bar again, Cayden nodded. “I do.”

“So then this chick is really into me,” Gage says, “and she’s tearing at my belt because you know she wants it. She finally gets it open and pulls my pants down and then she gets all scared and backs away and says it’s too big.”

“What a tease,” Mason said as he shook his head.

“No kidding,” Gage agreed, “so I just got up, pulled my pants up and went after her friend. She didn’t have a problem with it.”

“Nice,” Mason said and they gave each other a high five. “Let’s get another beer,” he said as he waved to the waitress.

Turning to Dominick, Cayden rolled his eyes.

“What do you expect?” Dominick questioned. “They’re straight.”

“Intelligence, maybe.” Cayden responded with a smirk.

Behind them, a group of guys began laughing and one of them stood up and stumbled back into Cayden’s chair. “Hey,” Cayden responded, “Watch it!” When Cayden saw the guy turn around and shake his head, he felt a knot in his throat.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” The guy questioned as he took a step forward, getting into Cayden’s face, but the guy’s friends rushed toward him and pulled him back, much to Cayden’s relief.

“Jeez, what’s his problem?” Mason questioned as the waitress came by with four beers and set them down on the table.

“Are you okay?” Dominick questioned.

“I’m fine,” Cayden responded.

“Hey, do you want to get out of here and go somewhere quieter?” Dominick asked.

Pausing for a moment, Cayden glanced at Dominick. “I don’t think I should leave him.”

“He’s with Gage,” Dominick assured him, “he’ll be okay.”

Pausing for another moment, Cayden turned to Dominick and smiled. “Sure, just let me go to the bathroom and then we’re out of here,” he said as he hopped off his chair. “Watch my beer,” he added as he stepped away from the table.

“Sure thing,” Dominick replied as Cayden headed toward the bathroom.

“Dude,” Mason said across the table. “We’re gonna go talk to those chicks over there. Keep an eye on Cayden,” he said as he and Gage got up and walked across the room.

“Don’t worry,” Dominick said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of liquid and glanced at Cayden’s beer bottle. “I’ll do more than just keep an eye on him.”

The men’s bathroom of Club Rain smelled like something out of a horror movie. Immediately wincing as he stepped into the room, he stepped to the side to allow a drunk guy to stumble past him back into the bar area.

Shaking his head, Cayden glanced at the stalls and saw that they were all occupied. In the far stall he heard what sounded like moaning and his eyes widened when he saw two sets of legs under the door. Backing off, he glanced at the urinals and stepped up to one of them, unzipping his pants. Beside him, someone stepped up.

“Cayden?” Szymon Skubisz questioned. Cayden could hear the sound of Szymon’s zipper being opened and his face flashed red with embarrassment, and he stood there holding his penis. “I’m not even going to ask how you got in here,” Szymon said with a smile. “And don’t tell me what you’re drinking either,” he added.

“Sorry,” was all that Cayden could bring himself to say.

“Don’t apologize, when I was your age, I used to sneak into clubs too.”

Finding it difficult to urinate with another man talking to him, especially a man as sexy as Szymon Skubisz, Cayden simply stood there.

“I hope you’re here with your friends, because this place is a crazy place to be all by yourself.”

“Friends,” Cayden responded with a nod. “I’m here with them.”

Szymon glanced at him curiously. “Are you okay?” He questioned, as he zipped up and flushed the urinal, stepping away. The moment Szymon cleared the urinal area, Cayden found that he could urinate.

“I’m fine,” he responded, trying to finish quickly.

“What about the phone calls?” Szymon questioned. “Did you get any more?”

“No,” Cayden responded as he zipped up and flushed the urinal. “I haven’t had one since Mr. Rocky Balboa . . .” He paused for a moment as the image of his cat in the bathtub flashed before his eyes. “Well, you know.”

“Good,” Szymon responded as he began to wash his hands.

The door to the men’s room opened and a drunk man stumbled in. “Hey,” he said as he pointed to Cayden. “You’re that asshole!” Stepping forward, the man swung at Cayden, landing a blow on his right cheek and sending him clear across the room.

Without even thinking, Szymon Skubisz reached over and placed his hand on the drunk man’s shoulder, whirling him around and punching him directly in the face. With a stumble, the man fell to the ground unconscious.

Staring at Szymon with disbelief, Cayden glanced at the man on the ground. “You killed him,” he said.

Stooping down beside the man, Szymon checked his pulse. “He’s not dead. He’s unconscious.”

Nodding his head, Cayden reached up to his face. “Dammit,” he groaned.

Standing up, Szymon crossed over to Cayden and cupped his face in his hand. “Let me see,” he said as he glanced at Cayden’s cheek. “It doesn’t look too bad,” he said with a smile. “I think you’re going to live.

Cayden stared at Szymon in silence as he felt the warmth of his touch on his cheek. He felt his knees go week, but he wasn’t sure if it was due to him being hit or if it was Szymon Skubisz that was doing it to him.

“Thanks,” he whispered as they locked eyes for a moment.

Pulling away, Szymon glanced down at the guy on the ground. “I guess I’m going to have to take him in. I’ll tell you, even when I’m not on duty, I’m still on duty.”

“No, don’t,” Cayden said as he took a step forward. “I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding. He’s drunk. Don’t arrest him.”

Szymon glanced up at Cayden. “You’re one of a kind, Cayden,” he said as he stepped away from the drunk man. “Anyone else wouldn’t care if this guy spent the night in jail, but not you.”

Cayden shrugged and smiled. “I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.”

Returning to their table, Cayden glanced over his shoulder at the bathroom, then glanced at Dominick. "You watched my drink, right?" He questioned.

"Of course," Dominick replied. "I sat here the whole time."

"Good," Cayden responded as he grabbed his beer and took a sip. Glancing in the corner, he spotted Gage and Mason talking to some girls. "Let's get out of here. It looks like Gage and Mason are busy."

With a smile, Dominick stood up. "They're not the only ones that are going to get busy tonight," Dominick grinned.

Approaching Cayden, Szymon smiled at Dominick and then glanced over at Cayden. "You leaving?" He questioned.

"Yeah," Cayden responded as he handed Szymon his beer. "Have fun," he said with a smile as he headed to the exit. Szymon stared until Cayden was outside, then glanced down at the beer and shrugged as he took a sip.

Stepping out into the night, Cayden felt an instant chill. "Damn, it's cold," he said as he started up the street with Dominick trailing him. "So where do you want to go?" He questioned. "How about some coffee?"

"Coffee sounds good," Dominick said as he watched him intently.

"Great," Cayden smiled. "I could use some coffee right about . . . whoa" he said as he suddenly found it difficult to maintain his balance. He stumbled. "Dominick," he said as he reached out to his friend.

"What's up?" Dominick questioned.

"The world is spinning," Cayden responded.

"Yeah, that's what they say," Dominick commented.

"I don't feel so good," Cayden informed him.

"Not yet," Dominick explained, "but you will in a little while." Smiling, he stepped forward and grabbed Cayden before he fell.

"Thank you," Cayden giggled. "I almost fell. You're my hero."

"Nice," Dominick said with a grin as he hoisted his friend up and began to drag him down the street while hailing for a cab.

Stepping out of the club, Szymon Skubisz glanced around. "Damn, it's cold," he said as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Wimp," Cecilia Nakamura said as he joined him on the sidewalk. "You've lived in New York for how long, and you still haven't gotten used to the bitter cold?"

"Blow me," Szymon retorted.

"But I'm not Cayden King," Cecilia teased.

"Go to hell," Szymon said with a smirk as he turned to head down the street. Pausing, he glanced at Dominick with Cayden hanging off of his arm.

"We're parked this way," Cecilia said as she jerked her thumb in the opposite direction.

"Hang on a second," Szymon said as he watched Cayden. "Something's not right," he said as he stepped away from Cecilia. "Hey buddy," Szymon said as he approached Dominick. "What's up?"

Turning, Dominick glanced at Szymon. "Nothing," he said, "my friend's a little drunk. I'm taking him home."

"Hey, I know you," Cayden said with a beaming smile as he pointed to Szymon. "You're that cop guy. You saved my life. I should thank you."

Szymon smiled, despite the fact that Cayden was obviously on something. "Cayden, are you okay?"

"He's fine," Dominick interjected. "He's just a little drunk."

"That's funny," Szymon retorted. "I just spoke to him two minutes ago and he was nowhere near drunk," he explained.

Dominick stared at him for a moment. "Dude, I don't know what happened. He just got all crazy. I'm going to take him home."

Szymon shook his head. "I'll take him home," he explained.

"Dude, back off."

Reaching into his coat pocket, Szymon pulled out his shield. "Why don't you back off?" He questioned.

Dominick glanced at Szymon for a moment. "Whatever," he said as he hoisted Cayden into Szymon's arms. "I was just trying to be a good friend."

"Yeah, well try somewhere else," Szymon retorted. Turning toward Cecilia, Szymon smiled slightly. "Can we make a pit stop?" He questioned sheepishly.

“Cici, I’ll be fine,” Szymon said as he stood in the doorway of Cayden’s apartment, slightly off balance. He wasn’t sure why he was starting to feel strange, but he didn’t want Cecilia to know because she would just blow everything out of proportion.

“You can’t spend the night here,” Cecilia informed him.

“I’m just going to make sure that he’s okay. I’ll catch a cab home. I think that guy may have slipped him something.”

Cecilia shook her head, “Fine,” she said, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I won’t say it,” Szymon said as he shut the door and crept into Cayden’s bedroom.

“Szymon?” Cayden questioned as he sat up in bed.

“It’s me,” Szymon responded.

“My head feels funny,” Cayden noted as he squinted slightly.

“I’m sure it does,” Szymon informed him.

“Where did Cecilia go?” He questioned.

“She went home for the night.”

“And you stayed?”

“I stayed,” Szymon responded. “So listen, I’m going to crash on your couch. If you need anything, just call.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Cayden said as he reached for the sheets and pulled them back. “You can sleep with me.”

Staring at Cayden in silence, Szymon shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“It’s a big bed,” Cayden explained. “And the couch is taken,” he explained. “My friend from home is staying with me. He’s gonna sleep on the couch.

“Oh,” Szymon said.

“Look, I don’t bite,” Cayden assured him. “I promise.”

“I do,” Szymon smiled as he shook his head and walked to the other side of the bed. Slowly sitting down, he glanced over at Cayden. “Okay,” he said as he eased into the bed.

“See,” Cayden said as he leaned over and let his head rest on Szymon’s chest. “It’s not so bad, is it?”

Groaning slightly, Szymon stretched his arms felt a weight on his chest. Glancing down, he saw Cayden nestled against his side and smiled slightly. Watching his in silence, felt Cayden stir and watched as he woke up.

“Good morning,” he said softly, startling Cayden.

“Oh my God,” Cayden said as he pulled away and glanced at Szymon. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s okay,” Szymon responded.

“What time is it,” Cayden questioned as he glanced at the clock. “I’m supposed to meet Devon at the Port Authority at two o’clock. She went down to Georgia to visit with family and she’s coming back today.”

“It’s a little after noon,” Szymon responded.

“I have to get ready,” Cayden said as he turned to get out of the bed and threw the covers off of himself. Standing up, he headed for the bathroom. Groaning slightly at the ache in his shoulder, Szymon turned and stepped out of the bed as well.

When he turned and looked at Cayden, he gasped. “Cayden,” he said, catching the other man off guard. “Where are your pants?”

Glancing down, Cayden King realized that he was completely naked. With a look of embarrassment, he turned to Szymon. “Oh my God,” he said as his eyes widened and he stared at the naked body of Szymon Skubisz. “Where are yours?”