Reaper (3 page)

Dallas turned, presenting his hard cock for Zack’s eager mouth to enfold, then he took Zack’s throbbing, leaking member between his lips. Soon enough, they were thoroughly involved in pleasuring each other. Zack was the expert at deep-throating, while Dallas used his lips and tongue to torment his lover to the peak of ecstasy. Too soon—as much as he tried to ride the pleasure Dallas was giving him—Zack exploded, filling Dallas’ mouth with his cum. Even as he did, he swallowed Dallas’ cock, knowing his groans of fulfillment would drive his lover over the edge into a full-blown orgasm.

“I swear,” Dallas murmured after they’d come down and released each other, “this way is as good as or better than fucking.”

Zack smiled, turning so that he could wrap his lover in a tight embrace. “True, when time is at a premium. But”—he tapped Dallas’ nose—“I have no intention of giving up long, slow lovemaking that involves getting screwed into oblivion.”

“Well, when you put it that way…” Dallas kissed him gently.

“I don’t want to leave,” Zack grumbled after returning the kiss. “I’d rather hold you while you sleep.”

“And get some sleep yourself,” Dallas said. “You—”

Zack kissed Dallas again to silence him. He knew what he was going to say. It was a discussion they’d had often enough before. Zack did get six hours sleep between coming home from work and leaving again around one a.m. to make his rounds of the parts of the city where the homeless kids and adults hung out. Dallas wanted him to come home before dawn so that he could at least sleep for another hour or two. Zack tried to do that, but it wasn’t always possible.

“Sunday,” Zack told Dallas when he finished kissing him. “You’re off. I’m off. We can spend the whole day in bed.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, love, I promise.” Zack grinned wickedly. “I’m not sure we’ll get any sleep, though.”

With a laugh, Dallas replied, “That works.”

* * * *

“You’re late,” Alice chastised when Zack came into the waiting room of his office suite.

“Sorry. Traffic.”

“At nine a.m.?” she asked, lifting one finely arched eyebrow in disbelief.

“There was an accident on the highway.” He took off his coat, hung it in the closet then came over to her desk. “Besides which, unless I’ve gotten my days mixed up, I don’t have an appointment until nine-thirty.”

“You didn’t. Tomorrow, though”—she tapped her computer screen—“you have a nine o’clock.”

“I’ll set my alarm half an hour earlier, then.”

He went into his office and found the folder he needed for his client already laid out in the center of his desk. Not that he was surprised. Alice always seemed to be one step ahead of him when it came to things like that. It was why he’d hired her several years ago, and why she was still working for him to this day. He scanned through it then brought up the pertinent information about the man’s investments on his computer, just in time for her to announce that Mr. Collins had arrived.

After they exchanged greetings and both men were seated, Mr. Collins got straight to the point. “I’ve been talking to the vice-president of Rice and Marshall. They’re planning to purchase the block bounded by First, Second, King and Prince Streets. I need to know your opinion on whether I should buy stock in the company, based on the fact that they intend to tear down the existing buildings and erect a high-rise condominium complex there.”

Zack nodded. “So I’ve heard. I’ll have to do some research, of course, but my initial instinct, based on what I know of them, is to hold off until everything is finalized. The people in the neighborhood have mounted a protest over the height of the buildings that could affect R&M’s chances of getting the required zoning permits, despite the fact that the company appears to have the zoning board in their pocket at the moment.”

“That’s what I’ve been told too, which is why I wanted your input. If the deal does go through, their stock could appreciate immensely.”

“And if it doesn’t, it could tank.” Zack clicked on a website then told Mr. Collins, “At the moment, their stock is holding steady and has been for the last week. It went up slightly on news of their plans, but not enough to jump on it yet.”

“Then I’ll hold off. Now, about…”

They went on to discuss some of his other investments, with Zack suggesting he sell one stock and put the money into another that had the potential to bring in a steadier, if slower, return with less chance of the price falling as the market fluctuated.

Mr. Collins gave his okay, he and Zack dealt with the paperwork involved, then Collins left.

As soon as Mr. Collins was out of earshot, Zack swore softly. He knew all about the piece of property R&M was working to get their hands on. It was in a rundown area on the edge of the Uptown district that was slowly being gentrified. The block in question held Off-the-Street, one of the city’s few homeless shelters. If the shelter closed, there would be more kids on the streets at night, easy prey for the punks who got their jollies beating up on them. And also prey to men like the one last night who went after young teens, mainly the girls, for more than just down-and-dirty sex.

Maybe it’s time to start focusing my attention on them. And…
He tapped a finger pensively on his lips.
I’ll see what I can do about coming up with a new building for the shelter.

Chapter Two

Reaper moved down the dark streets, searching for the girls he’d met the previous night. He knew that, despite the fact they should know better now, they were probably in the same area. It was a known spot for johns looking for fast, cheap sex.

He discovered he was right when he saw three of them hovering on the stoop of a derelict building. As he neared them, a car pulled up. The oldest of the girls walked over, squatted and talked to the driver. Then, with a nod, she went around the car and got in. Her head disappeared from view, and Reaper knew she was servicing the john. Not too much later, she was back on the street, pocketing the money she’d earned, and the car drove off.

As Reaper approached the girls, he got tentative smiles from them.

“You’re the dude from last night,” the oldest looking one said.

He nodded.

“Thank you for…being there.”

Again, he nodded.

“You’re the strong, silent type, aren’t you?”

Reaper smiled. “Sometimes.” He joined the two other girls on the stoop just as another car approached. “Ignore him,” he told the girls. “We need to talk.” He could tell the oldest one wanted to disregard his words. “Please. This is more important than a couple more dollars in your pocket.”

“Says you,” she retorted, but she came over to where they stood.

“To start with, would you tell me your names?” He chuckled softly. “That’s make it easier than my calling you Blondie or Shorty.”

“I’m Raven,” the tallest one said. “’Cause of my hair.”

“I’m Star,” the youngest one murmured.

“A pretty name,” Reaper told her. “And you?” He looked at the last girl, who was about Raven’s age, he thought.

She shrugged. “Nickie. I don’t have a street name. You do, though. You’re Reaper.”

“That I am.”

“You’re famous.”

“Good Lord, I hope not.”

“You are to us,” Raven told him. “You protect us.”

“I try to.” He leaned back against the side of the building, his gaze moving from girl to girl. “I could use your help, though.”

“Us?” Star looked at him in disbelief.

“Yeah, you. After what almost happened last night to your friend—”

“Jinx,” Raven put in.

He nodded. “Anyway, after last night, I got to thinking. I know I can’t stop all the predators out there, but with your help, I might be able to make some of them think twice about roaming around looking to grab kids like you.”

“It’s scary,” Star whispered. “But we have to live and…”

“I know. I’ve been there. I get that.”

The girls looked at him in shock. “You?” Raven said.

“A long time ago—but yeah. At the moment, though, that’s not up for discussion. I need your input and maybe your help.”

“Depends on what,” Raven said, getting slight nods from Nickie and Star.

“Do you know any girls or guys who had something happen like what went down with Jinx last night?”

“There’s been stories,” Raven replied. “More like kids suddenly going missing—ones like us who work the streets. Yeah, some of them probably moved on. That happens. Try a new area, a new city. But others…” She spread her hands.

“I heard about one girl, who got into a car like Jinx did, and the guy drove off. She ain’t been seen since,” Nickie told him.

“I’ve been thinking,” Raven said slowly. “Maybe we should tell the johns that if they want some, they get out and come into the alley with us. That’s how some of the guys I know do it. They see a car that’s cruising, they catch the dude looking at them then go into the alley. The dude parks and they take care of business where it’s safe.”

“Not really safe,” Reaper told her. “But probably better than what I saw you doing tonight—and other kids like you.”

“Hey, I tell the dude he turns off the car or I don’t get in,” Raven protested. “Taught them to do that too.” She nodded at Nickie and Star.

“Did you tell that to Jinx?” Reaper asked.

“Well…yeah. Guess she forgot.”

“He moved fast, just like any scumbag bent on grabbing one of you would. It only takes a second to pull you in, turn the car back on and take off before you know what has happened.” Reaper shook his head before continuing. “What I need first from the three of you is to get the word out that I want to talk to any kids who managed to escape when someone tried to abduct them, and anyone who witnessed it.”

“Reaper, ““right now like I told you, you’re famous. I bet when we do that, you’ll have girls flocking to you.” Nickie grinned. “Tall, dark and handsome. Yeah, they’ll want to meet you face-to-face.”

“Good Lord.” Reaper laughed. “Please tell me you didn’t just say that.”

“Well, you are,” Nickie stated. “A little old maybe, but still…”

“Way to go, Nickie.” Raven rolled her eyes before saying, “If we do find anyone who’s interested, how can they hook up with you?”

Reaper tapped a finger to his lips. “You know the all-night diner on Prince Street?”

“Yeah. Frank’s Place. Around the corner from Off-the-Street.”

“That’s the one. I’ll show up there every night for the next week around four a.m. If I’m not there, tell them to give me a few minutes.”

“’Cause you’ll still be beating some asshole to a pulp,” Raven said with a small grin.

“Now would I do that?” Reaper asked with a straight face.

“Yeah, you would. It’s why you’re famous,” Nickie told him.

Reaper looked up at headlights approaching. The driver of the car slowed momentarily then sped up.

“You’re killing our business,” Raven muttered.

“Sorry, but…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. This is more important. I get that. Okay, we’ll see who we can dig up for you. What are you going to do if you get the info you want?”

“Go after the bastards,” Reaper said tightly.

“I bet you catch them too.” Star’s smile was shy when she said that.

“For your sakes, I’m going to do all I can to make it happen.”

* * * *

Reaper’s plan was tenuous at best. The first step was to get leads from the kids about who the real predators were—presuming, of course, that they had it together enough that they remembered details.

Saying it was a guy in a green car and he looked around thirty isn’t going to do me any good.

“And once I get the information,” he murmured, as he got ready for bed, “then what? Make a list and pass it around to all the kids so they know who to watch out for? There’s hundreds of them out there.” He smiled dryly. “Tack flyers to every light pole saying, ‘If you see anyone matching this description call 555-1234 ASAP’? Yeah, that’ll work—not.” That gave him an idea, though.

Chapter Three

“You are
what
?” Dallas looked at Zack as if he’d told him he was taking the next space shuttle to Mars.

“I’m going to stop bastards like the one who tried to grab Jinx last week.”

It was Sunday. Almost noon. Dallas and Zack were finally getting dressed after spending what Dallas considered had been a very fruitful morning in bed.

“I’m going after them, once I get as much information as I can from the kids who witnessed—or were victims of—an attempted abduction.”

Dallas glared at him. “Catching them is my business—police business. Don’t you have any faith in us? After all, you’re living with a cop. You know—”

“I know you do the best you can,” Zack broke in. “Things would be a lot worse without all of you around. But”—he pointed a finger at Dallas—“you can’t take things into your own hands the way I do. None of you can—at least, not legally.”

Frustrated, but knowing Zack was correct, Dallas scrubbed one hand over his blond hair. “That’s the only reason I condone what you do. I know what’s out there, harassing the homeless, preying on kids. Add to that the problems the homeless have now, since our fucking city government set up the ‘urban camping’ ban.”

Zack broke into a smile. “Such words from someone who is supposed to uphold the ban.”

“Look, a lot of us don’t like it, and you know it. But we have two choices, chase the homeless off, telling them to find a shelter or else, or look the other way. And if Off-the-Street is torn down to build those damned high-rises…” Dallas shook his head.

“You heard about that, huh?”

“Yeah. The people in the Uptown district are not happy. How did you know about it?”

“It’s my business to be aware about things like that, so I can advise clients wanting to invest in new projects.” Zack took a drink of his coffee. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’m going to get as much info as I can about the predators.”

“Get it and turn it over to me. I’ll pass it on.”

“First off, how would you explain how you got it? And secondly, none of you can arrest any of the bastards unless you catch them in the act. You know the chances of that happening are slim to none.”