Please, don’t arrest me. My folks, they don’t know I’m gay. My mom will kill herself if I get arrested like this. Please.”

Jose took the cuffs off and handed him a card.

“That is my address on the back. I’m going to let you go. Show up at my place tomorrow morning, six sharp. Keep your mouth shut about this, or it means my job. I have your address. You fuck with me kid, and it will be your last time. You go home, go straight to bed. Don’t ever come here again.”

“Yes sir, officer Delgado




Billy was standing outside the officer’s door, hesitant to ring the bell. He could hardly keep his eyes open, having not slept all night.

Jose opened the door.

“Come on in. I have eggs on the stove, so have a seat. I’ll be right with you.”, said Jose while walking into the kitchen.

Billy felt a little bit better about being there, the guy seemed normal enough. He looked around the living room. It was sparse, not very well furnished. His books were on a shelf of boards and concrete blocks. There didn’t appear to be any television or stereo. The room had an old awful brown futon and an old wooden crate coffee table. It smelled of the cops aftershave, probably he sprinkled it around to try and cover the odor from the cat’s litter box. I yellow and white short hair cat had attached itself to his leg, purring and leaving a storm of white fur in the air as Billy stroked him.

“I’m glad you showed up. I didn’t think you would.”

“I didn’t think I had a choice in the matter.”, said Billy , as he walked into the kitchen, seeing the table set for two.

“I’m interrupting your breakfast. Maybe I should come some other time.”

“You can’t leave yet. I didn’t make all this food for just me. Have a seat. Eat.”

Billy reluctantly sat. His heart was still pounding with fear. What the hell did this guy want? Probably to convert him by teaching him the errors of his ways, freeing him from his immoral lifestyle.

“So, was that the first time you had been to the park cruising?”

“ What the hell is it to you? What the fuck did you invite me here for anyway?”

“I didn’t ask you here to hassle you. You know you put yourself at risk picking up men that way.”

“Why do you care so much?”

“I just thought maybe you needed someone to talk to who knows how you feel. Someone with the same interests.”

Billy looked up into the cops eyes, thinking, this guy is gay?. Jose became less menacing and more attractive with just a couple simple words, ‘same interests’. It was ridiculous, the thought that this sheriff’s deputy was hitting on him. No, he was only trying to be nice, some civic duty helping out the pathetic gay kid. He wasn't a deputy at all. The badge had been a fake. He killed the real deputy and stole the badge. Billy was in the middle of a panic attack, his mind racing.

“You are gay?” , asked Billy.

“Yes.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I just thought you could use a friend.”

“I have plenty of friends. I need sex.”

“Just how badly do you need it.”, he chided , getting up from his chair,