I am so sorry that it took me so long to post another chapter. This fall has gotten the better of me. I've been getting so much done around the farm that I've been neglecting my writing duties.
Steve's unease returned the moment they entered the overcrowded tavern.
Every tabletop was occupied and the waiting area by the bar was two people deep. Subconsciously running his left arm across his lower back to feel the safety of his service revolver; he followed Mike deeper into the dining room.
Unlike the plain outside of the building led him to believe, JC's had a nice, clean eating area. The walls were adorned with old records and pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge from different angles.
The bar itself was surprisingly large, seating at least twenty-five across with another small nook in the back corner. A good-sized stage off to his right was currently being used by a 4-person rock band. A chalkboard hanging from the ceiling announced Thursday being "Fantasy Night".
Contrary to some of the characters he'd seen enter earlier, most of the patrons were dressed in regular attire. Steve scanned a few tables for their suspect, but only found couples enjoying a celebratory dinner.
For what it was worth, Mike had been right. So far, nobody seemed the least bit suspicious of their presence.
As he followed the Lieutenant to the nearby bar, Steve nervously looked over his shoulder, sensing that he was being watched. A male server dressed as a black cat stood at the far corner of the entrance and winked at him with a sensual smile. Turning back around to find his partner, he saw Mike squeezing past a few patrons to belly up to the bar.
"Of course he would…", Steve muttered in defeat, and approached hesitantly.
He hated feeling that way, hated the unease that other people's life choices had on him. Always one to consider himself to be open minded and easy going on most stand points, Steve was frustrated that the whole topic of homosexuality bothered him that much.
After all, in his relatively short time in homicide, he'd seen plenty worse things when it came to human behavior. Was he afraid that somebody would come on to him? Did the sight of men or women couples sharing a kiss set into motion some primal fight or flight reflex? Were the early teachings of right or wrong, black and white, good and bad the conduit for his mixed feelings?
He wasn't sure.
But perhaps there was a lesson in all of this, he coached himself; a challenge for him to review the way he looked at life and those he shared it with.
After all, who was he to define what love really meant to people he didn't know.
While the Lieutenant was busy trying to get the bartender's attention, Steve turned around, vigilantly ensuring that they had each other's back. Scanning the dining room area once again, he inadvertently drew the attention of a tall blonde man dressed as a surgeon.
Steve felt a sense of dread wash over him when the man got up from his table and slowly strolled towards him. Turning around and pretending to talk to Mike was out of the question; especially once he overheard his partner having an animated conversation about the regulars with a man in a seahorse costume.
Pretending to be busy reading the time, he glanced down at his wristwatch, until he sensed a presence next to him.
"You two are new around here.", the man whispered in Steve's ear, filling the air with his beer-laden breath. "What are you dressed as tonight? An insurance broker?"
Looking up at the man who towered at least another head above him, Steve smiled nervously before turning his head to listen to the band playing, trying to ignore his latest conversation partner. His luck ran out a few seconds later, when the music died down and the band members took a break.
Deciding to end Mike's undercover plan prematurely considering the circumstances; Steve pulled out his badge and presented it to the man, keeping his profession neutral.
"San Francisco PD."
"Wow, very nice.", the dress-up doctor said, moving in closer to study his badge with great interest, "Where did you have that made, Inspector…Stephen Keller? The star looks super realistic. There's even a badge number!"
Steve almost laughed at the ridiculous irony of all this- and the fact that Mike seemed painfully unaware of what was going on behind his back.
When he didn't answer right away, the man offered his outstretched hand.
"My name is Magnus Allen, but you can call me Mag. I am sorry if we started out on the wrong foot, my friend. I can be a bit overbearing sometimes, especially after happy hour drinks and a pitcher of beer. Please accept my apology."
Shaking the man's hand hesitantly, Steve sensed sincerity behind his words, making it past the dense fog of overzealous pomposity.
"So, what brings you and your friend here? Not that I am not glad to see you. We've been having a bit of a turnover in clientele around here lately. I was just wondering where you had heard about us?", the man said with a cheery upward inflection in his voice.
Clearing his throat, Steve put the badge away and straightened out his sportscoat.
"Are you the owner?"
The man shook his head while casually playing with the stethoscope around his neck.
"No, but I might as well be. I am here almost every day. Have been for years. I am also friends with the owner, but he isn't here tonight. "
"Okay.", Steve leaned in closer when the noise level of the dining room rose again, "My partner and I are trying to get some information on a couple of your patrons for a murder case we're working on."
Smiling, Magnus reached forward and squeezed his shoulder.
"Well, Inspector Keller, you have that police voice down to a fine art. I love it. You should come when do role plays every Tuesday, from eight till midnight. You would win it, I bet. Especially if you bring your partner. You could even pair up with Joel and Randy, they typically dress up as road patrol."
With his patience running out, Steve shook his head determinately and pointed at Mike.
"Listen Mag, we are not here for the dress up show. We are real cops. And I need to ask you a few questions. Now, is there a private place where we can talk? Something a bit quieter than this?" using his authoritative voice as best as possible, Steve was pleased to see the man back off in shock before gesturing to a nearby door.
"Of course. I am so sorry Inspector. Follow me."
Hoping that Mike would forgive him for the quick change of plans, Steve followed the tall man in green surgical scrubs into the back office in the far-left corner. The door held off most of the noise, and he could finally hear himself think again.
"You said a murder case, Inspector. What is going on?"
Sitting down on the edge of the nearby table, Magnus' voice had lost all its cheery tone, his expression guarded.
"Do you know a Glenn Malcolm?", Steve reached into his coat pocket for the small DMV picture of his victim before handing it to Magnus, "He was found floating in the Bay yesterday morning."
Nodding ever so slowly, the other man looked at the picture before lowering his head in grief.
"Yeah…I knew Glenn. He's been a regular here for about a year, I'd say.", Steve heard him swallow a few sobs, before glancing back up. "What do you think happened to him?"
Accepting the picture back, Steve took a step closer but crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"See that's what we're here to find out. We're not quite sure. He was last seen a couple weeks ago after a fight with his mother and then-"
"Oh God." Magnus cried out and hid his face in his palms, "I told him not to tell her. Why didn't he listen?"
"So, you know about his mother and that whole…situation."
"Have you met this witch?"
Steve couldn't help but smile empathetically as he nodded.
"Yes, I did. I will admit she is…very…special."
"That's putting it lightly, Inspector. You should have heard how she belittled him. Glenn would come in here and tell us about the verbal abuse he dealt with since his father died. We tried to listen and help, but there was only so much we could do."
They stayed quiet for a while and Steve bit his lip, trying to concentrate over the background noise.
"This thing with his mother started when his father passed away?"
"Yes. That's what he said." , reaching for a nearby Kleenex, Magnus blew his nose before continuing, "Seems like the death of her husband turned her into this angry witch. He tried to stop by once a week to see her, but all she would do is put him down. Make fun of the way he talked, or walked. He was mortified to tell her that he was gay."
Nodding, Steve reached for his notebook and wrote down a few thoughts. His pen almost left the page when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Magnus had gotten off the desk and stepped closer, but slowly removed his hand when he sensed the young Inspector's unease with the gesture.
"I...I am sorry. I just wanted to thank you. For what you are doing."
"Excuse me?" Steve tried to keep his tone casual in the awkward situation, but felt his voice quiver.
"For actually looking into this. For not treating Glenn like some garbage, just because he was gay. For caring enough to want to solve that murder."
"Oh.", Steve tried himself in a reassuring smile, as the music behind them started up again, "Well that's what we do. No matter his lifestyle, Glenn is still a human being. And his family deserves closure."
Magnus lowered his gaze and took a shuddered breath. Steve could see a mountain of anguish in his brown eyes when he looked back up.
"Listen Inspector Keller, I am not blind to how uncomfortable this whole thing is for you. I sensed it since you and your partner walked in, but a few too many drinks turned me into a blabbering idiot. I promise you that nobody in here will lay a hand on either one of you while you investigate Glenn's murder. I am sorry that your first experience wasn't a good one. This is my fault, I got carried away. Sometimes…sometimes I stand in the way of the very cause I live for, which is to be accepted for who we are. But how can I expect people to do that, when we behave the way I did around you? I guess I was hoping that if we had more positive role models in our gay society, that some of the hatred towards us would disappear. And even though I knew better, I just hoped you were gay. For that I ask for your forgiveness."
Steve swallowed hard when the man took another symbolic step back, before reaching out his hand. Shaking it, the young Inspector smiled.
This time it wasn't forced.
"You got yourself a deal."
Obviously relieved, Magnus returned to the desk to reach for another Kleenex.
"I just wish I could help you more. I haven't seen Glenn in at least two weeks."
"Well, maybe you can." Steve countered reassuringly and glanced up from his notepad. "His sister told us that he had a boyfriend. Did he ever bring him here?"
Magnus frowned in confusion before biting his lip.
"I am not sure…typically Glenn came in here alone. For the past couple of months he'd been hanging around Larry a lot though. I am not a big fan of that guy; I think he's a creep. But they seemed to share some mutual admiration. I even saw them kiss once. That's a far cry from a relationship though."
"How would you describe this Larry?"
"Oh, I don't know. About your height. But heavier. I'd say 180-190lbs. Dishwater blonde, very tanned. Huge hands."
Symbolically showing off the outline over his own hands, Magnus shrugged.
"Does he look anything like this guy?" pulling Ludwig's picture from the other coat pocket, Steve handed it over only to receive a nod in return.
"That's him."
"Well, he goes by the street name Ludwig. He is also the last man to be seen with Glenn before he disappeared. We want to ask him a few questions about this case."
"Oh, well I guess you are in luck, Inspector Keller."
With a renewed sense of accomplishment, Magnus gestured over to the door.
"He's here tonight. Has been since we opened at noon. I'll introduce you guys. And don't worry, I won't tell him you're a cop unless you want me to."
"No, that's ok. I am afraid he's going to run if you do that. He may run anyways, but we'll see."
Relieved at the good news, Steve turned towards the door when he heard Magnus clear his throat.
"Hold on one second, Inspector." Visibly cautious not to touch the detective, Magnus positioned himself in front of the door, "We have a code here at JC's. If you are straight, we...eh…call you by your first and your middle name. It takes the pressure out of wondering if you are…gay, you know what I mean?"
When Steve nodded hesitantly, Magnus pointed his chin at the badge hidden in his pant pocket.
"What's your middle name?"
"It's ehm…"
When he waited too long, Magnus gently tapped his chest and smiled.
"How about we go with Jake? You look like somebody with a middle name of Jacob, calling yourself Jake to be short and sassy…", reaching for the door, the taller man stepped aside to make room for Steve to return to the bar area, "Let's go and meet Larry, Stephen Jake."