Murder on the Hudson - 5. Chapter 5

I found myself alone in my cell with Larry. He had stripped to his Bikini shorts and was lying on his side facing me. He was trying to entice me and I must admit he is a tasty little morsel. I sure could have used a little sex and I thought that maybe we could do something tonight after lights out.

In the meantime, I decided to put him completely at ease, so I used the Peter Falk, “Colombo” method of interrogation, which is no interrogation at all. Colombo allowed his suspects to talk freely until they hung themselves.

“That’s a nice package you’ve got there,” I observed.

“You like?” Larry asked, as he pulled his cock and balls out of the shorts..

“I like a lot,” I answered.

“You want? You’re not in Monte’s bed anymore. We are allowed to do each other,” Larry let me know.

“I like, and I want,” I answered. “Later, after lights out.”

Larry smiled at me. He stood up and sat down beside me on my cot. His hand rested on my knee and began to slide up and down my inner thigh. He could see that I was getting hard and his hand began to caress my cock through my gym shorts. I leaned over and kissed him. As I did that he parted his lips and his tongue parted mine. I must admit that I liked the way he kissed, and I found myself hoping that he had nothing to do with the whole affair, but I was sure that he did.

“By the way,” I said in my best Colombo manner. “Did you ever see Norman Sharpe naked?”

“Oh sure. I served him and Monte breakfast in bed often. He has the fattest, longest uncut cock I have ever seen. You can bet I was jealous of Monte.”

“Did he ever come around to the house to see you during the week when Monte was in the city?”

I could tell in an instant that the last question made Larry uncomfortable. He shifted on the cot, turned slightly away so that his eyes were no longer facing me and said, “No, he never came around when Monte wasn’t there.” He was lying. After all my years of experience as a detective, his lie was a no brainer.

I poked him in his ribs with my elbow, and started to giggle. “Come on,” I said. “How could he resist a good looking guy like you? I know I sure can’t.” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Larry started to giggle also.

“Well, he did. Please don’t tell Monte.”

I shook my head vigorously and laid my hand on his cock. What I was hoping for was happening. Larry was forgetting that I was a cop, and he began to confide in me. Now I must confide in you. Larry had the cutest smile I have ever seen and a beautiful body. His cock was cut, solid and smooth and I was beginning to drool. I was starting to get feelings for Larry, and I had to keep reminding myself that he might be a murderer, and I better keep my mind on business.

“How often did the horny bastard come around?” I asked.

Larry smiled sheepishly and said, “Two or three times a week after work, and sometimes after dinner.”

“I’m jealous,” I said sincerely.

I pulled Larry to me and began to kiss him passionately. To my joy, he was returning my kisses just as passionately. We were interrupted by the sound of dinner trays being rolled into the cell block. I found out later that in the next cell Jason and Ian were also resuming their activities of Friday night. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was falling in love, and hoped that something was happening between Ian and the handsome Chief of Police. I guess you think that way when you are in a romantic mood.

I really wasn’t worried about there being poison in our food. Larry and I had two potential victims in front of us, and they were both in the next cell. I had to applaud Jason. Before he and Ian ate dinner, one of his men brought in a K-9 dog. Jason put a little food from his and Ian’s trays in a dog dish, and offered it to the dog. He sniffed it, and then devoured the food, looking for more.

After dinner, Larry and I did not wait for lights out to begin making love. From the sounds coming from the next cell, Jason and Ian were similarly occupied. I could only wonder what Monte was thinking. This time it was he who was left out.

We had no lube so we contented ourselves with oral sex. This evening, I forgot that I only did that for foreplay. Larry’s cock felt so good against my tongue. It was so soft on the outside, yet I could feel the hardness on the inside. I couldn’t get enough of him. When he came the first time, I kept right on sucking over his objection. In time the sensitivity disappeared and the passion returned. He came a second time in my mouth as he thanked me profusely. When he recovered, he returned the favor. Larry was a super cock sucker and I came rather quickly. However once was enough for me. I am a good fifteen years older than Larry, and I suppose that made the difference.

We tried to snuggle together on one cot, but it was just too small, and we finally had to reluctantly separate and get into separate cots.

“Goodnight, sweet,” I whispered to Larry. I almost said that I loved him, but I forced myself to realize that he was a murder suspect. I was finding it harder and harder to believe that this sensitive young man could murder anything more than a chicken. Still, he was a prime suspect.

We were awakened by the morning light. I yelled out to everyone and was relieved to learn that all five of us were still alive. We all had to pee and some of us needed to shit. Ian and Jason were taken to the latrine together and each made sure that they were in full sight of each other the whole time. When Ian had to dump a load, Jason made him leave the stall door open.

Monte went next accompanied by a guard and finally Larry and I went together. We peed and both of us shit in full view of the other. I never did that with any other living being except when I was in the navy. I respect the privacy of certain acts, and wish the same for others. Somehow, these bodily functions became a final form of intimacy between Larry and me. Before we left the head, we embraced and Larry said those fateful words.

“I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” Before I could answer he pressed his lips on mine and prevented me from saying anything.

Back in our cell, I kissed him again and sat him down next to me. “Listen to me,” I said in as serious a voice as I possibly could. “You are a prime suspect in the killings that occurred in the house. If you want me to protect you, you’ve got to be totally honest and tell me everything you know. I love you, Larry. Be honest with me so I can help you out of this mess, and hopefully keep us both from becoming victims.”

Larry threw his arms around me and began to cry. “Ken, Kenny,” he sobbed, “I didn’t kill anyone. I couldn’t do that. I swear that’s the truth. I can’t lie to you, either. You’re the man I love.” He started planting wet and slobbery kisses all over my face. I pulled him to me and began to caress the back of his head. His blond hair was soft and silky like a young child’s, and an overwhelming need to protect him overtook me. His erection was rubbing against me, and I was consumed with a warm glow of love. The feeling was overwhelming. I had never been in love before. Please God, I prayed. Let him be telling me the truth.

I held him for a while, reluctant to let go, afraid I would lose this glowing feeling. Finally, we sat down on my cot together. I held his hand and said, “Think carefully. Take your time and tell me everything you can about Norman. Right now, he’s another prime suspect.”

Larry put his head on my shoulder and I melted away. Please be real, I thought. Don’t be leading me on.

Larry began: “One night I heard Monte’s car pulling into the garage. Most of the time I’m a light sleeper. I didn’t expect him until the next morning, so I got up to investigate. I saw him come in the front door with Norman. It was the first time I had ever laid eyes on him. I didn’t know he was a cop until much later. I hate to tell you this, Kenny (I loved the way he called me Kenny), but I was pissed as hell. Usually when Monte got home, he called me right to his bed, but obviously it was not to be this time. I went back to my room, whacked off, and fell asleep.”

Larry paused and looked at me. I think he wanted to see what my reaction would be to his having whacked off. “Relax, sweetheart, (I really called him that) I whack off all the time. As a lover I never disappoint myself.” We both broke out laughing when I said that.

“I hope I never disappoint you,” Larry said and I shook my head to let him know that he never could. He continued.

“In the morning, I brought them breakfast in bed. I knocked on Monte’s door and he allowed me to enter. They were lying naked in bed, kissing and feeling themselves up. When I saw Norman’s muscled body, I got a hardon myself. He must have noticed it because he winked at me.

“After breakfast, Norm showered and got dressed. He said he had to go to work, and he called for a cab. I never asked what kind of work he did. As I let him out the front door he pinched my ass and whispered to me, ‘I’ll see you again, little friend, when the cat’s away. Then we mice will play.’ ”

Larry kept pausing in his narrative to study my face. He feared my reaction to his confession, so finally, I said, “Larry, I love you. Both of us fucked around before all this shit happened, so stop worrying. I’m not going to think ill of you.” I grabbed him and kissed him to reassure him. He continued.

“Norm seemed to know when Monte would leave for New York. He showed up after work the first day that Monte went back to the city. I let him in and we made real wild love. Norm is an animal, without any finesse. He’s inconsiderate of his partner, the exact opposite of you.” He paused again and this time he kissed me gently with a closed mouth. A fire went through me.

“He left abruptly that first day. He had cum rather quickly but he had left me unsatisfied. He said that he had to get home to the wife and kiddies, the cheating bastard. After that he came around two or three times a week. I swear, Ken, I didn’t want him to, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. If I objected, he said he would run me in on some imagined felony. That’s how I found out he was a cop. Every time he made love to me, he hurt me. He liked fucking me without lube and worse, without a condom.” Larry began to cry again and I held him tight. “The only time I got relief was when Monte was in residence. I wonder if he ever told Monte that he was fucking me. I sure never did.”

“My poor baby,” I said rocking Larry in my arms. “I swear I’ll get that bastard, and if he’s our man, I’ll crucify him.” Now I paused. I ran my hand up and down Larry’s back to soothe him.

“Larry, baby,” I said, “I want you to think hard. Can you think of any reason that Norman would want to kill all those guys?”

“Not really,” he said, “but I could make some wild assumptions. Since they met, Monte has been showering Norm with gifts. Monte even gives him money to buy frivolous things for his wife and kids. When Norm goes into the city, he stays at Monte’s plush apartment, and Monte takes him to every Broadway show running. But here’s the big but! Monte found out what a great calligrapher Norm is, and he has him do the invitations for every one of his sex parties. We have at least one a month. Norm has been addressing the envelopes for several months now and not once has he been invited to a party. If I was Norm, I’d be pretty pissed at that myself. If I had to guess, I would think that Norm was afraid that Monte would tire of him and award the prize to one of his new play mates.”

I didn’t say anything to Larry, but I couldn’t help think about the motive he was ascribing to Norman. The same motive fit Larry to a tee. I also remembered the looks that passed between Monte and Jason back at the house and I had to conclude that Jason had the same motive. I had a lot of suspects and no evidence.

Just then, Jason addressed me through the bars. “Hey Ken,” he said. “Since we can’t get hold of Norm, I asked the guys to ask his wife if she would please come by. I’d like to know if she can shed some light on his comings and goings this weekend. She should be here any minute. When we go to interview her, I’ve asked the guards to put Ian in your cell. You better look after him good, Larry. I’ve got a crush on him.”

“You’d better take good care of Ken then,” Larry hollered back. “I’ve got more than a crush on him.” I heard Jason laughing. It wasn’t long before one of the guards came and put Ian in my cell and Jason and I were taken to the interview room. I wondered why Jason was keeping Monte so isolated Maybe it was some sort of revenge. But if it was revenge, what was it for?

Chrissy Sharpe looked agitated as we entered the interrogation room. “I don’t have much time,” she said. “I left the kids with my next door neighbor.” She was a small woman, barely five feet tall and I doubted if she weighed a hundred pounds.

“I’ll get right down to business then,” Jason said. “When did Norm leave on this fishing trip?”

“Friday afternoon,” she stated without hesitation. “He said he’d be gone the entire holiday weekend.” The chief and I looked at each other. Norm was one of the officers who responded to his call Saturday morning. Well, we knew he lied to his wife about his sexual preferences, so it was natural that he would lie about his whereabouts. I wondered where he had spent Friday night. Perhaps lurking in Monte’s hallways.

“Have you heard from him at all?” I asked. “We can’t seem to reach him on his cell phone. She shook her head.

“He was going to some lake up in the Catskills. You know how bad reception can be in rural mountainous regions,” she offered by way of explanation. She had read all about the murders, and it was obvious that she was beginning to look worried. Could her Norm have had anything to do with it? She concluded that it was impossible and she relaxed some.

Has Norm ever talked to you about Monte Barnes?” Jason asked.

“He’s the guy who owns the house where those fags were murdered,” she said. Monte’s eyes became slits and I think mine did too. “No,” she said, “I can’t say as he ever has. How would he know any gays anyhow?”

Chrissy’s belligerent behavior concerning gays was perfect evidence to me that she was lying. This beleaguered housewife knew all about her husband’s escapades, or at least she suspected. Her facial expressions and uncharacteristic crude language were a dead giveay. The lady was hurting inside.

“Is your husband in the habit of disappearing for extended periods of time without keeping in touch with you?” I asked her this in the kindest tone of voice I could muster up. If Monte was in the room, he would have immediately cast me in a play. As I asked that question, I looked her straight in her eyes in the most compassionate way my acting abilities would allow. I could see her softening.

“Yes,” she answered. “He disappears often. I know he likes to go into the city a lot. He says he is going with friends, but I know he goes alone. The only thing that he is considerate about is that if I need it, he leaves me the car and takes the bus into Manhattan.”

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this Chrissy,” Jason said in a sad voice, taking a cue from me. “You said that Norm started his fishing trip Friday evening, but he was on duty Saturday. He got off about 3 PM and he’s off until tomorrow morning. Do you have any idea where he spent Friday night?”

Chrissy lowered her head. “I should have known,” she said. “If he didn’t go into Manhattan then I have no clue where he was Friday night. He’s cheating on me. Isn’t he chief? I’d like to know who the bitch is.”

“I have no idea,” the chief lied.

“Is there anything else, Jason? I really need to get back to the kids.”

Jason looked at me so I said to Chrissy, “That’s it for now, but we might have to call on you again. In the meantime, if you should hear from him, please ask him to call the precinct as soon as possible.” Chrissy nodded and left.

Jason and I hurried back to our cells. We both were apprehensive about leaving Ian and Larry alone for even a second. When we got there moments later, we were both relieved to see that they were alive and well and playing a competitive game of “War.” One of the guards must have given them a deck of cards. When they saw us, they stopped playing and were just as relieved to see us as we were to see them.

Before the guards reconfigured our cell arrangements, I looked in on Monte. “How are you doing fellow?” I asked him. He looked at me blankly. He seemed still to be in a state of shock.

“Okay, I guess,” he muttered and that was that. Poor Monte. His whole world had turned upside down on him. Eight of his best friends and fuck buddies, had been murdered right under his nose, and at this moment in time his life sucked. He could be murdered himself at any time, or worse, he could be accused of murder. I tell you, I really felt for him. But my fears were all centered on Larry right now.

In the middle of the night, Larry and I were playing a game of sixty-nine when I heard a commotion in the next cell. Jason was yelling for the guard and using his cell phone.

“What’s wrong?” I yelled.

“It’s Ian, Jason sobbed. “He was down on me and he suddenly passed out. He’s barely breathing. Oh God, don’t let this be happening. Please don’t let him die. I love him. I love him,” Jason was getting hysterical and I couldn’t blame him. If Larry was to pass out on me, I’d freak also.

Soon the paramedics arrived. They rushed into the cell and began to examine Ian. “I think he’s in a diabetic coma,” one of the EMT’s said. “Does anyone know if he has diabetes? Search his pockets for insulin.”

Jason went through Ian’s shorts and found a bottle of insulin, but no needles. The paramedic took a syringe from his bag and administered a small dose of insulin to the comatose Ian.

“This will have to do until we get him to the hospital.” The paramedics lifted Ian onto a gurney and started to wheel him away.

“I want to go with him,” Jason yelled. “I’m afraid to leave him alone.”

“That’s not possible, Chief,” one of the guards said. I’ll put a man on the case to watch over him until he’s released from the hospital. Don’t worry we’ll take good care of him.”

The ambulance blared its way to Nyack Hospital. The paramedics rushed Ian into the ER. A doctor quickly assessed the situation, drew some blood and did a shortcut test for blood sugar. Then he gave Ian a proper dose of insulin. The doctor drew a curtain around the gurney. The jailhouse guard and the two paramedics accompanied the doctor to a desk where they filled out and signed all the necessary documents.

They had all failed to notice the dark figure that had entered the ER immediately after they all did. Despite the hot and humid night, he was wearing a jacket with a hood. The hood was doing a good job of concealing his face. He ducked behind the curtain and was gone from the hospital long before the jailhouse guard returned. The guard positioned himself outside the curtain and kept a look out until two orderlies came to take Ian to a room.

The orderlies opened the curtain and gasped. Ian’s face was covered with a pillow. They removed the pillow fearing the worst. The young man had been suffocated with the pillow, and had gone to join Monte’s other guests wherever they were.