stopped him. "Don't make any travel plans without checking with me first, Jack," he said, facing him and making sure Jack saw his own pants bulging and stained by an immense hardon.
"Not to worry. You have my number. Call me." Jack paused by the open door, taking in the sight of Cavanaugh's full frame and zeroing in on that full crotch.
"I know this is all an act," he said.

"An act?" Jack's brows furrowed. "Are you calling me a tease?"

"Oh that you are. But there's more to you than this circuit boy shtick."

"Why detective, I do believe you're finally catching on. You'll have me in handcuffs yet," Jack winked and closed the door after him.

2. INTER

Cavanaugh, suit jacket in hand, walked from out of the dense humidity at the juncture of Royal and Dumaine in the French Quarter and into the cool but musty bookshop. A little bell above the door announced his presence and a man in his late twenties with hair shorn close to the scalp and a lanky, swimmer's built looked up from behind a desk situated close to the entrance.

"Cavanaugh, my man, where have you been keeping yourself?" the shop's proprietor asked.

"You know me, Norris, all work," he replied. Norris was one of Cavanaugh's more reliable contacts placed as he was in a curious middle ground, working with the Historic Society by day, helping the rich pawn their valuables on the side, and dealing with all sorts of shady characters on his down time. "Did you get what I need?"

"Dude, I am so going to enjoy collecting my reward for the kind of information I have for you," Norris said, jumping up from his seat and leading the way to a room in the back.

Cavanaugh followed closely and grabbed at the bubble butt Norris was shaking his way. Once inside, Norris locked the door and pushed Cavanaugh down to a plush leather swivel chair. Norris faced him, then settled down on his lap, hands frantically tugging at his tie.

Cavanaugh laughed as Norris pulled off his tie and started on the shirt buttons. He sat back and allowed Norris to push his shirt apart to reveal his powerful, hairy pecs. Norris hands seemed like they were everywhere, caressing his chest and his sides, pulling at his nipples and then moving quickly down to unbuckle his belt.

"Unh-uh," Cavanaugh shook his head. "You know the rules, baby. Tell Daddy what he wants to know first before he pays up."

"Oh you are going to pay up big time, stud man," Norris sighed, quickly pulling his own shirt off then burying his face on Cavanaugh's chest to deeply inhale the heady masculine scent. "It wasn't easy, what with unreliable record keeping on bills of sale. But I went by your hunch about the Mondejar collection and you were dead on. I tracked those five pieces that disappeared from Europe back through previous owners and they were all originally owned by the Mondejars. They changed hands a few times and the original stones were all either consequently reset and, or renamed by the new owners."

"I knew it," Cavanaugh said, feeling Norris' tongue eagerly lapping at his nipples.

"And the Winston Ruby?" Catching the left tip between his teeth, Norris gently tugged before letting go.

"Same thing. From a ruby pendant owned by the Mondejars to an