Perfect Flaw by Frank Spinelli

Author:Frank Spinelli [Spinelli, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay, mystery, noir
ISBN: 9781935560845
Publisher: Blind Eye Books
Published: 2021-10-06T18:06:06+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Over the next several weeks, the practice slowly came back to life, stretching and yawning as if they had been hibernating. In the wake of the scandal, Stanzione had Steven cancel all scheduled lunches and dinners. Drug reps were not permitted to enter the office, not even the five-star ones like Jill. Eventually, the reporters disappeared, moving on to some other, more current stories. Stanzione and Angelo focused on the patients. Saving the practice became their mantra.

For all the time and effort it took to incorporate Demetre into the office, it was amazing how quickly all evidence of him was removed. In the days after his departure, Steven had the remaining furniture hauled away. He even repainted the former SkinDem suite himself. Once he was done, he invited Angelo downstairs to have a look. The walls, so sparkling white, were hauntingly sterile. The only smell was the pungent scent of fresh paint, like glue. As Angelo wandered around, it felt as if SkinDem had never existed there at all, that it was nothing more than a nightmare he’d dreamed, and he felt swaddled in the safety of his denial. For a moment, he closed his eyes and struggled to organize his impressions, but his memories of Demetre were fading even then, leaving behind but a vague residue he hoped would fade completely under that fresh coat of paint.

With the holidays approaching, Angelo welcomed the distraction. His relationship with Jason had shifted into a comfortable stride. No worries about whether he should text or call, but just doing it without feeling needy. Jason reciprocated with the same measure of spontaneity, surprising Angelo at his office so they could grab dinner together. There was even a discussion about spending the holidays with his sister Camille and her husband Trace, but Angelo wasn’t ready to submit Jason to the man he considered was the biggest loser he had ever met. Instead, they celebrated Thanksgiving with Tammy and Val.

And yet, for all the positive changes, Angelo’s mind wrestled with doubt that his relationship had become too easy too fast, particularly on those nights he slept alone. But then, the next day, he’d wake up to a text from Jason, Morning Sunshine, and that gnawing beast of doubt was silenced.

Angelo thought Steven decorated the office to an excessive degree, perhaps hoping to camouflage some of the lingering embarrassment with a holly branch or a poinsettia set in a vase covered in reflective red paper.

Taking a seat at his desk one afternoon in early December, Angelo saw a message taped to his computer screen with Steven’s trademark double exclamation points.

“Thank you for returning my call,” Detective Farrell said to Angelo. “I need to discuss a matter regarding Demetre Kostas.” A spider of panic crawled up Angelo’s back. “Can I come by your office around noon?”

“Today?”

“Is today not good for you.”

“No, please,” Angelo said regaining his composure. “Come by.”

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