Wrong Side of the Law

Chapter 1-2

“What the hell do you mean you won’t take my case?” Dan asked angrily, an hour after leaving the meeting with Lt. Barker. He glared daggers at Paul, the man he lived with and loved. Paul was seated at his desk in his office at the high class law firm where he worked as a junior partner.

“I mean, I won’t take it. I knew this was going to happen sometime, Dan,” Paul replied calmly. “You’ve played fast and loose once too often, trying to bring down the people you’re after. This time it’s come back to bite you in the ass. If you fight this accusation, everything will come out. The evidence planting, the arm-twisting you’ve done to get someone to testify against the people behind them, whether it’s the truth or not. All of your dirty tricks. As much as I hate to say it, you’ve met your match with Mr. Pichot. He has you dead to rights.”

“It’s all lies. You know me better than that. You know I’d never give a bastard like him a chance to walk away from what he’s involved in.”

“Wouldn’t you, if the money was right?” Paul tapped the papers Dan had given him. Copies of the accusations Pichot had made. “A quarter of a million, Dan? That’s not walking-around money.” Paul smiled dryly. “If I were to make a guess, I’d say it would make you feel like you’d finally be pulling your weight in our relationship. Something that’s galled you since the day we met.”

“And just how would I explain where I got the money, if that’s what I was doing?” Dan asked, staring hard at the man he loved. Abruptly he wondered if Paul actually loved him in return. Right now it damned sure didn’t feel like it. “Do you really think I’m the kind of cop who would let scum like him…? Never mind, you’ve already answered that question by saying you won’t stand behind me in this.” He slammed his fist down on Paul’s desk, smiling when his lover jumped in surprise. “I guess I’ll see you at home. Or should I pack up and leave before you get there?”

“Of course not! Just because I won’t defend you doesn’t mean…”

“That you don’t care? That you don’t love me?” Dan broke in, his voice filled with disgust. “I tell you I’m innocent and all you can say in reply is that no one will believe me because I don’t always play by the rules to stop the bastards I’m after.” He pressed his hands on the desk, leaning forward to get in Paul’s face. “If you really think I’d try to blackmail Pichot into giving me money in exchange for letting him walk free, then you don’t know me at all.”

With that said, Dan turned to leave.

“Don’t!”

“Don’t what?” Dan asked, spinning around to look at the man he thought had loved him.

“Don’t leave like this. Give me a chance to explain.”

“You had your chance. You could have believed me and stuck up for me. I need…No, I needed you to. Would it have been so hard for you to say, ‘Yes, Dan, I’ll defend you.’? ‘I’ll be your lawyer and we’ll beat this asshole and bring him down.’?” Dan shook his head in disgust, ignoring the pain that was eating at him. “Apparently, your precious reputation is more important than I am. Than believing in me is.” He strode to the door, yanking it open. “Maybe we’ll meet again someday—but not if I have anything to say about it. It was fun while it lasted, Paul, but now it’s over. Us. My life. All of it.”

The last thing he heard before he slammed the door behind him was Paul’s pleading, “Dan, don’t do this.”

Forty-five minutes later, at their apartment, Dan had packed up what he wanted to take with him, including some items Paul didn’t know he owned. He stared at the three suitcases before snapping them closed. Damned all, when it comes down to it. Ten years a cop. Five years with…him. And this is all I have to show for it.

The pain of betrayal was sinking in deeper with every hour that passed. The lieutenant believing Pichot’s lies. Paul believing he was capable of doing what Pichot had said.

“Lover?” Dan snarled angrily. “Long term bed partner is more like it apparently, as far as Paul was concerned. If you love someone…”

He’d thought that’s where they were at. Two men who loved each other with all their hearts. They’d made plans for their future together. A house, maybe a dog or a cat, or both. Vacations spent traveling—something they’d never done because they never seemed to have the time. As much my fault as his since I spent half my time doing undercover work, but still…

Dan picked up the bags, carried them to the apartment door and looked around at what he was leaving behind. My life as I knew it. Time for a new one. Somewhere where…He almost chuckled. Where no one knows my name, to paraphrase. A new life. A new me. And no one in my life but me. Love…sucks. Love…betrays. Love…is more pain than one person should have to endure.