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I’d begun by experimenting with makeup looks, wigs, and gowns, thinking impersonation might be the easiest way to go, so I adopted the styles of Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Whitney Houston, but again, those performances were lip-synced. One night, as I was getting ready to perform at a small local gay bar with some other queens, I began singing while putting on my makeup backstage. One of the drag mothers heard my voice, saying I could do so much more by singing live and truly impress an audience.

That sparked the idea that I could sing in a higher range and possibly pull it off. And pull it off, I did. I made more tips than I ever had at lip-syncing, and the audience wanted more. I only had one song prepared, by Anita Baker, but I’d need to build a repertoire to grow my popularity. And so, Onyx Storm's vocal talents helped me build a following whenever I went on stage. I kept my drag performances few and far between because it was only a side gig and my detective work took priority, but it was my escape. I was already known as ‘the singing detective’ by the guys in the precinct, but I didn’t want to be known as ‘the drag detective.’

The timing was interesting because I got a text from the talent coordinator at Beaux Nightclub, just before the Swensons arrived, asking if I’d be available to perform on Sunday night at a fundraiser supporting LGBTQ+ youth. I couldn’t say no to that.

The sound of Sean’s voice and footsteps approaching brought me back to the present. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stay longer when I met the Swensons. I needed to meet an informant on another case. How were they when they left?” he asked with a wince.

“Lucy blames herself for leaving her daughter alone, but neither her husband nor I could fault that reasoning,” I replied. “I’m afraid she’s going to be holding onto that guilt for a long time.”

“Yeah… you think you can protect them from the world, and then something like this happens, it makes you feel you’ve failed at being a parent.”

“I get that,” I replied, knowing how much Sean loved his daughter.

I could only imagine what would happen if something were to happen to one of my sisters or me, and how my parents would react. We were a family of faith, and I’d grown up in the church, but a loss like that could either bring families closer together or tear them apart. I knew my parents worried about me being in law enforcement, but they’d always supported me and my need to serve.

My phone dinged with a message, and I saw it was from Craig. We exchanged a few messages, and I mentioned the gig on Sunday night. He thought a group event might work since it was a fundraiser. I delegated contacting our friends to him.

I’d forgotten that most weekends Craig enjoyed working in his yard, and he seemed annoyed that I’d forgotten. I was more interested in the Miss Nevada crowning ceremony tomorrow night, considering the case Sean and I were working on. I thought a night away might be good for us. He was coming to my place later for pizza, and I figured we’d discuss it.

Now, I needed to call Bally’s and see if I could get us a room at such short notice.

“Honey, I’m home,” Craig bellowed cheerfully as he came through my front door.

“Kitchen!” I yelled back.

“I brought beer. I didn’t think to ask if you had any,” he said, plopping the six-pack on the counter next to the green salad I’d just finished making.

I was standing between the open refrigerator doors, putting the salad makings back, when a pair of arms sneaked around my waist, making me chuckle.

“Hey, handsome,” he said, kissing the back of my neck.

I pushed us both back far enough to close the refrigerator doors, turned in his arms, and a pair of steel-blue eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at me. My pulse picked up as I ran my fingers through his blond hair. I could tell he’d just showered, and the scent of eucalyptus and tea tree filled my nostrils as I breathed him in.

“Hey, back,” I said before pressing my lips to his. I tasted peppermint toothpaste as I ran my tongue between his parted teeth. I didn’t hold the kiss long, but the blood was rushing to my groin. The pizza was on its way, and I didn’t want to answer the door in tenting sweatpants.

Craig moaned and chased my mouth as I pulled back. “Uh, uh…let’s not start something we can’t finish. The pizza will be here soon,” I warned.

“You’re no fun,” he pouted.

“I’ll show you fun later, mister.” His frown turned into a grin of anticipation, and I took the opportunity to slap his ass when he turned to walk away.

“Salad looks great,” he commented, rubbing his ass. Watching him run his hand over his tight-fitting jeans didn’t help my dick deflate.

“Easy enough to throw together. We needed some greenery with the greasy pepperoni.”

Craig grabbed the six-pack of beer, pulled out two, then put the rest in the fridge. “I’m glad you brought some over. I’m fresh out,” I said, taking one of the bottles. I unscrewed the top, he did the same, and we clinked them together.

He leaned against the counter behind me as I pulled down plates. “By the way, I left soon after we texted and mowed the lawn. I figured I wouldn’t feel guilty if I at least did that,” he said, then took a pull from his beer.

“Speaking of…I’m sorry I forgot that’s what you like to do on the weekend. I guess I got excited about the idea of heading up to Lake Tahoe.”

“That’s okay. It sounds more fun than yard work.”

“So, I made the right call?” I said with a wink. “I thought it would be good for us to get away and spend a night there. Oh…and I was able to get us a room at the resort, since the pageant is hosted there.”

“That’s convenient. And I get to scratch my gambling itch while we’re there, along with hotel sex. We haven’t been to Vegas in a couple of years, but Lake Tahoe has the same gaming.”

“Yeah, hopefully your luck will be better on this trip. Your gambling luck, that is. How much did you end up losing in Vegas on that weekend trip?” I asked, taking a sip of beer.