Free Closer by Morning by Thom Collins

“It’s sick shows like this and their glorification of violence that has led to the deaths of two innocent men.”
    Oh fuck. Dale shut off the TV. This was turning into a nightmare.
    ****
    It was a long-running tradition on Wednesday night for Matt to get together for dinner with his best buddy, Conrad. The guys had been friends since school and the bond remained unbroken. Despite college, employment or any other responsibility, their friendship remained tight.
    It was Matt’s turn to entertain. Conrad O’Brien was a much better cook than he was but Matt would never be presumptuous enough to expect his friend to do the hard work every week. Once a month they ate out, but tonight was just a regular evening at home.
    It had been a good day for Matt. After his workout with Annabel and the gorgeous Dale Zachary, he’d got the result he wanted at court. Jenna McNab had been spared jail and given an order with the probation service to carry out one hundred and twenty hours of unpaid work. He’d spent the afternoon with three new clients and had a couple of hours to prepare his case for tomorrow. It was a pretty successful day.
    By the time Conrad arrived for dinner he was ready to unwind with a few drinks and good company. They were in the kitchen of the comfortable two-bedroom semi he rented on the outskirts of Durham.
    Conrad sat at the table, thumbing through news pages on his tablet, while Matt was at the cooker assembling the rice, chicken and curry sauce to make up that evening’s dinner.
    Conrad was twenty-eight with short dark hair and a slender build. He hadn’t changed much since their school days. While exercise and genetics had caused Matt to broaden and thicken throughout his twenties, Conrad was as tiny now as he’d been at fourteen. It suited him, though for years he’d hated it. Matt remembered all the guys he’d brushed off when they had hit on him and called him cute.
    â€œI think you might be barking up the wrong tree,” Conrad said, putting down the tablet to refill his wineglass. “It says here that Dale was married. He’s even got a kid.”
    Matt stirred the pan of chicken. “Annabel said he was divorced.”
    â€œLooks that way.” Conrad had the tablet again and was tapping at the screen. “Looking through some of these movie forums, there’s nothing here to indicate he’s gay or even bi. A few suggestions here and there but nothing you don’t read in discussions about any hot actor. It’s idle speculation with nothing to back it up. Sorry, sweetie. I think you’re out of luck.”
    â€œDamn.” Matt finished his wine and poured another glass. “I feel like an idiot now. Giving him my card like that.”
    â€œGuys must hit on him all the time. I’m sure he’s used to it. No big deal.”
    â€œI wasn’t hitting on him. Just gave him my number. I didn’t make a move or anything. Thank God.”
    â€œHe is beautiful,” Conrad said. “Wow. Check out some of these galleries. You do have good taste.”
    â€œHave you seen any of his movies?”
    â€œMmm. I’ve seen that one with the ax. And this pretty bad rom-com. Can’t remember what it was called, but he was the only reason I kept watching. He took his shirt off a lot in that movie.”
    â€œI need to do some homework. Check out a few of the films he’s been in.”
    â€œIt won’t get you anywhere.”
    â€œBut I’ll get to see him with his shirt off.”
    They both laughed. Matt plated up their food and they ate at the kitchen table. It was nothing special. The sauce was from a jar but it tasted okay and the chicken was moist. Good company mattered more than great cooking.
    â€œDid I tell you I ran into Jamie the other night?”
    Conrad’s eyes widened. “No. Where was he?”
    â€œAt work.” Matt told him about their unexpected meeting at the police