“Do you know what I’m going to do when you turn into a silver fox?I’m going to chain you to the bed.You’re not going anywhere, mister.”
With what looked like an effort, Tean opened his eyes.“So, why Scott—”
“And it’s not just going to be sex stuff.We’re going to do alotof that—you banging me, me banging you, maybe get one of those toys so we’re getting banged at the same time—”
“Jeremiah,” Tean whispered with what sounded like desperation.
“—but we’realsogoing to binge all ofBuffybecause you’ll finally have time and you can’t say you’ve got to go to work or you want to read your book or isn’t it Scipio’s bedtime—”
“Oh my gosh, Jem, please.”
“Look at him,” Jem said.“That hair.The way he’s holding his head.That’s a boy wholovesclimbing up Schlong Mountain.”
Tean must have been fighting the urge to close his eyes again because the lids fluttered.
Jem felt like he might not be making his strongest case, so he added, “Plus, his dad owns the property next to Kai’s mom.They were neighbors.”
For a moment, Tean didn’t say anything.He scrolled back to Scott’s photo and studied it some more.Then he turned to his laptop and typed briefly.
“What’s that?”Jem asked.
“A specialized search engine.They’ve got a phone number for him.”
“Call him.”
Tean set the phone on the desk, set it to speaker, and placed the call.
It rang twice.And then a man said, “This is Scott Taylor.”
14
Jem spoke first.“Hi, Scott.My name is Jem Berger.My partner, Tean Leon, is on the phone with me.We’re helping a friend look into some strange stuff that’s been happening lately, and I know this is going to feel like it’s coming out of nowhere, but we think you can help.We only need a couple of minutes.”
“Uh, okay.What do you mean, strange stuff?”
“According to our records,” Tean said, “you’re currently living in Oakland.Is that correct?”
“Yes.What’s this about?”
“Do you know a man named Kai Butler?”
The silence lasted a beat too long.
In the background, another voice—one that sounded male—said something.
“It’s work,” Scott said in response.“Well, I’m sorry, Travis.It just came up.”That voice said something again, and then Scott said into the phone, “What about Kai?”
“Is everything all right?”Tean asked.
“My husband thinks I’m having an affair.And that I’m a workaholic.Yes, I knew Kai.What about him?”
“Did you know the police are looking for Kai in connection with a murder?”
“Oh my God.No, I had no idea.Who did he kill?”
“You haven’t kept in contact him?”
“I haven’t kept in contact with anyone.I left Utah when I was eighteen, and I haven’t been back.I don’t talk to my family.I don’t talk to anyone from there.And trust me, none of them want to talk to me.I’m sorry, but I haven’t had anything to do with Kai in almost ten years.I don’t know how you think I can help you.”
