the block enough times to know the value of my currency in the meat market. Not being vain when I say I could hook up with ninety percent of these guys if I wanted—just being realistic.” Looking at Eddie intently, he explained, “What you and your friends have—that’s what I want. It’s what I had in Baltimore. I almost didn’t move ’cause I didn’t want to leave my friends. It’s hard to find quality people.”
“How d’you know we’re quality people? I think we are. But you don’t know that.”
“It’s what I want to find out—why I want to get to know people outside of bars. Come to a place like this, meet nice people, get to know them someplace else.”
Eddie liked Stephen. What he said made sense and Eddie felt that perhaps he’d make a good friend and addition to their little family. He wasn’t a military person but being in the service wasn’t a requirement—it just happened that way most of the time. “Sorry if I implied you’re just another horn-dog but come on—it’s almost last call at WC’s.” Stephen laughed, his nod communicating Eddie had nothing to apologize for.
“Y’all ready for this?” said a voice on the television.
Eddie smiled at Stephen and said, “I’m ready if you are.”
8
“I thought you two might fuck on top of the bar.”
“Sorry, sport. I’m not you,” said Don to his friend in his jeep’s passenger seat.
“That’s right.” Karl laughed. “Forgot I told you how, at the end of Lance’s shift, I’d pull his jeans down and flip him over the bar. He’d get off work then we’d both get off! Damn, I miss that ass. Too bad it’s attached to someone so needy.”
“Of course you told me. You used to tell me everything, remember?”
Karl was quiet for a few minutes but it was too dark for Don to see his facial expression and tell what he was thinking. “I tell you—like, I told you about those two behind Peacock Alley.”
“That was nine months ago. Buddy, it’s your life. No law says you gotta tell me about your business. But for three years you hooked up with a lot of guys and you always gave me the gritty details. Lately you haven’t said shit about anyone. Makes me wonder, that’s all.”
“Fuck you. You get on my case for too much sex. Now you’re telling me I don’t have enough. What the fuck?”
Karl’s sudden outburst caught Don by surprise. Because he was still enraptured by his experience with Patrick, he wasn’t up for a verbal brawl. “Forget it. Sorry I upset you.” He reached across the interior of the jeep and gave his friend a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.
“I’m not upset. It’s just—it’s just there are some things—things I can’t tell you.”
Karl’s comment was alarming. “You can tell me anything. I thought you knew that.” He diverted his eyes from the darkened interstate long enough to see Karl look out the passenger’s side window into the night air.
“No, Don,” Karl sighed. “I want to, but there are some things I can’t tell even you.”
Jay’s simple plan was to earn the Sailors’ and Marines’ respect by passing himself off as something similar to a serviceman—a cop, a fireman or a security guard. He didn’t speak the military’s language with its thousands of unique phrases, acronyms and abbreviations. Only the men and women who endured the armed forces’ intense initiation rituals were fluent in what he thought of as mil-speak. Fortunately, being in the military wasn’t necessary for his purposes. His goal was to earn their trust, allowing him to infiltrate the military’s tight-knit community of gays. Once he was accepted, he’d gather vast amounts of information like names, addresses, photographs and maybe even tape recordings and videos. He hoped to become a legend within the agency by busting the largest ring of homosexuals in the history of the armed forces.
But he had to hurry. American society degenerated more each day. Soon the new president would allow gays to serve openly. Starting tonight, Jay would use tougher and smarter tactics than the NIS had ever used to get rid of the homosexuals.
If Ed lived near the dance club as he’d said, their two-car convoy should be nearing his house. Jay had recognized Ed from his afternoon’s surveillance in the park with Ollie. He had the opening he needed when Ed’s friends left him alone at WC’s. Initially, Ed’s stoicism had been a hurdle but the Sailor was outmatched. Over the years, Jay had learned how to harness his charm and apply the right touch at the best time to win over the hardest-hearted men.
Although Ed was more disciplined than most, the Sailor had inevitably dropped his guard, revealing too much. Only a Sailor would’ve gone to Florida—boot camp in Orlando—then Virginia—many Navy bases there—and finally to Europe on a Mediterranean float. Ed’s use of the word “tour” and his recurring moves to San Diego were also giveaways. Outside the club, Jay tried to glimpse Ed’s DoD sticker but he’d shielded it. Regardless, tonight’s progress with his networking plan was satisfactory.
Jay wasn’t familiar with San Diego’s neighborhoods. “Washington Street to Park Boulevard.” From there they’d driven down two smaller side streets. Ed turned into the driveway of a small and quaint bungalow-style house. Jay parked by the curb and hurried across the street, following Ed to his front door. “Looks like a nice place, Ed. You live here alone?” An enlisted person couldn’t afford a house in San Diego. Jay hoped Ed was an officer.
“Yes,” Ed said curtly.
Jay feared he’d crossed a line by asking Ed a question that was too personal. He looked around, quickly trying to think of something generic to say. Fortunately, a bright porch light gave him the chance. “You’ve got an amazing green thumb. Or your gardener earns his pay.”
Ed brightened. “Thanks. My yard is my therapy. More productive and cheaper than a shrink or a gardener.” He opened the door. “Come on in, Stephen. Can I get you a diet soda? It’s a mystery to me why you physically fit types stick to diet drinks.”
“No thanks.” Jay studied the room. “I’ll be up all night from caffeine or pissing or both.” As he’d suspected, Ed’s house was immaculate and the smell was a combination of pine-scented cleaner, lemon furniture polish and a citrus potpourri. No hint of a dog.
Ed laughed. “Suit yourself. Have a seat on the sofa. Back in a sec—have to look after the dog, let him know I didn’t abandon him.”
“I don’t mind if you let the dog in.”
Ed disappeared through a doorway into the kitchen. “He gets crazy around strangers.”
A door opened and shut. Jay heard Ed’s muffled conversation with his pet in the backyard. “Hey there, boy! Ya’ miss me?” Jay took advantage of his host’s absence to look at his personal items. Photograph albums were stacked on shelves next to books like the kind seen in lawyers’ offices. Framed pictures covered the walls displaying a large number of men in decent shape with military-style haircuts.
“Jackpot,” Jay muttered. Ed’s house was a gold mine of information. Many photographs showed Ed with the same man. One shot of the couple was at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In the earlier photographs, Ed and his partner stood in front of landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Buckingham Palace and they looked young and
