Chapter 1
Fifty-five-year-old LAPD lieutenant Billy Sharpe packed his fishing rods in the trunk of his black Corvette. The long rods unscrewed to shorter pieces and came in a traveling case. He was going fishing on a lake near San Diego with his police buddies. His dog, Lady, a white saluki-mix, was coming with him. Lake Cuyamaca was where he and the dog first found each other. Billy left the trunk open and entered the kitchen through a connecting door from the garage. His house in Bel Air had four occupants, him, his thirty-five-year-old actor husband, Alexander Mark Richfield, Tadzio Andresen, a transgender actress and her husband, Matt Nolf, Billy’s nephew. Lady wagged her fringed tail and followed him around since she knew something was up. Billy returned to his bedroom for his clothing bag. Alex was in the study working on the computer. It was a Saturday and Alex was off work. His TV series Room at the Top was renewed for another season, and Alex was juggling his movie career with his television roles, and very busy. Billy stood behind Alex and massaged his shoulders. “I’m about ready to head out.” “Okay.” Alex spun on the swivel chair and looked up at him. Billy smiled at Alex’s handsome face. The young man was the spitting image of his Top Model father, Mark Antonious Richfield, with his emerald-green eyes and long brown hair. “Where’s Tadzio?” Billy asked. “She’s at the salon getting her hair done.” “What are your plans this weekend?” “Nothing. Just work.” Alex indicated the script on the desk. Lady sniffed around the room, then stared up at them. Matt was also an LAPD cop, and he was already at work on patrol. “I’ll call you when I arrive.” Billy cupped Alex’s jaw and kissed him. “Okay.” Billy winked at his husband and shouldered his bag, then made sure he had Lady’s items too, her leash, food, and water and food bowls. He left the house and opened the car door for the dog. Lady hopped into the Vette and looked more excited than he was. After tucking items into the trunk, Billy sat on the driver’s seat and started the sports car’s motor. As he did, he glanced at Alex’s red Ferrari Testarossa. Alex wasn’t invited to fish with him and his friends. He had come once and was bored out of his mind and acted like a jerk. Billy backed out of the driveway and used the remote control on his visor to shut the garage door, then opened the passenger’s window for Lady so she could poke her head out. The August heat had already begun to build, and Billy enjoyed the cool refreshing air near Lake Cuyamaca. He put his sunglasses on and headed to the highway.
