The Old Men's Sex Club Murders

by Matt McGregor

  “I’m surprised,” Kenta answered. “No, that’s not true. I sense more depth to you than the others we’ve hired. More stability.”

  “Of course, I know about two of the others. The one who ran up the phone bill, and another one Paul told me about who wanted to become an actor. Do you think either of them could be—”

  “The one who killed Harvey? Well, the one we fired was terribly angry. But I doubt it. From what I understand Harvey was tortured to death. I suppose if someone is angry enough to do something like that, it’s possible. The actor? I think he just had a change of heart, after a time. Figured he didn’t want to please the members anymore. I’m not a mental health person, but I can’t see any of the boys being that angry, that out of control to do what was done to Harvey.”

  “Any idea about who it might be?”

  “The murderer?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can speculate, but I have no proof. And I don’t want to point a finger at anyone.”

  “I can understand. They’re all your friends. The members of the club, I mean.”

  “More or less.” He looked over his shoulder into Rob’s eyes. “Who do you suspect?”

  “No one. Everyone.”

  “Strange thing to say.”

  “I really don’t know the members that well. As you know, I haven’t been around them much.”

  “Yet you do have your suspicions?”

  “Certainly, the ones who come to mind are those into the more violent acts. Torture, rape, control.”

  “For some it’s more play than reality,” Kenta said.

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “I won’t say more. I’ll let you find out for yourself.”

  “That still leaves people like…”

  “I take it you’re thinking of people like Clyde.”

  “Okay, I admit I am.”

  “I doubt he’s the one.”

  “Really? After what he did and said?”

  “Mostly that was for show. Yes, he did rape you, if that’s the right word.”

  “I did consent to be used however the members wanted. So I don’t know. I certainly didn’t expect it.”

  “Yet, you didn’t make any objection.”

  “I suppose I didn’t. Should I have?”

  “That depends on you. The way you think. Your personality.”

  “If you want to know the truth, I’m sorry I let it happen. That and some other things too.”

  “It seems that like me you’re having second thoughts.”

  “May I ask a favor?”

  “Certainly.”

  “Please don’t tell the other members. I… The timing just isn’t right.”

  “And more than that, you’re trying to find out who the murderer is, aren’t you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s obvious. No, you didn’t give yourself away. But I know Dale just wouldn’t let things go. Harvey and he were too close for that. And he’d also want to protect the other members. Find out who the killer is before anyone else is murdered.”

  “What can I say?”

  “It’s all right. I won’t tell anyone else.”

  “You don’t think anyone else suspects?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “But why—”

  “It became obvious when I realized Paul is here too.”

  “You know that.”

  “Well, I’m no Mr. Moto, but Paul does wear a pretty distinctive sort of cologne. The only one in the club who does. I’ve even though of trying it myself. Just never asked Paul what it was.”

  Paul stepped out from behind the lockers. “Hello, Kenta. The cologne is called Le Male. But I thought I’d scrubbed it all off.”

  “As I said, it has a distinctive odor, and I have a distinctive nose!” He laughed. “What I mean is that my sense of smell seems to be more highly developed than that of most people. Where others wouldn’t catch the scent, I would.”

  “But since you intuited what’s going on, you have no ideas about who could have murdered Harvey?”

  “Suspicions, yes. But nothing to base them on.”

  Chapter 7

  Mr. Carlton insisted on knowing what had happened when Rob met with Kenta Yamaguchi.

  “Find out anything?” he asked.

  “Not a thing,” Paul said.

  “In fact, Mr. Yamaguchi knew Paul was here hiding.

  “How could he possibly—”

  “Smelled my cologne, even though I did my best to wash away the scent before coming here.”

  “I certainly don’t smell it,” Carlton said.

  “Apparently,” Rob said, “Mr. Yamaguchi has a highly-developed sense of smell.”

  “Did Kenta suspect anyone of… of killing Harvey?” Carlton asked.

  “He said he had some people in mind, but he didn’t say who they are,” Paul answered.

  “Probably doesn’t want to cast doubt on anyone without knowing for sure,” Carlton said before turning to Rob. “You don’t have any idea who he might have meant?”

  Rob shook his head. “None at all.”

  “Well, it was a shot in the dark at best,” Carlton answered. “One of many.”

  “The other members you mean?” Rob asked.

  “Yes. Those you still have to meet with.”

  “Do you think this is really going to do any good?” Paul asked. “It’s just that since Rob and I decided we don’t want to be members anymore—”

  “Neither of you wants to follow through with this.”

  “Right, Mr. Carlton,” Rob said.

  Despite the situation, Carlton smiled. “Mr. Carlton, is it? Not Daddy anymore.”

  “Sorry,” Rob said, feeling his face flush.

  Carlton shook his head. “I certainly understand. When Harvey and I decided to live together, we also decided on a monogamous relationship. But things sometimes change.”

  “Not in this case, sir,” Rob said.

  Paul nodded.

  “I certainly wish you the best of luck. And once this is over…”

  “I’ll withdraw my membership,” Paul said, “because I have exactly what I want in Rob.”

  “And I’ll resign…though it would be very easy to get used to the lifestyle I’m leading.”

  “We’re concentrating on the members of the group to solve this,” Paul said. “Do you think any of the former members could be responsible?”

  “How many are there?” Rob asked.

  “Not many,” Carlton said. “Just two others besides Seth.”

  “Not counting John Plimpton, who moved to Oregon when his firm made him West Coast manager.”

  “Could he be the one then?” Rob asked.

  “Highly unlikely,” Paul answered.

  “Why’s that?”

  “He had an automobile accident, Rob. Has to wear a prosthesis. An artificial arm,” Carlton explained. “It would be very difficult for him to drag Harvey to the table and then lift him up.”

  “But I suppose it could be done. He was always a strong man?”

  “But why would he want to hurt Harvey? Did he have a grudge against him? Was there some sort of disagreement?” Rob asked.

  “Nothing that amounted to anything,” Carlton said.

  “What happened?” Rob asked.

  “A petty disagreement,” Paul answered.

  “Hardly the sort of thing to lead to something like what happened,” Carlton answered.

  Rob looked from Carlton to Paul. “Should we talk about it.”

  Carlton shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt to,” I suppose. I hate to air dirty laundry. But if I must…”

  “I can tell Rob later, if you like.”

  “No, “What occurred, Rob, is that after Harvey and I decided it wasn’t working and started the club…”

  “John saw his chance, so to speak,” Paul said. “Right, Dale?”

  “Yes, he made a pass at me. Several passes. Seemed he’d been interested— This is difficult for me. Maybe Paul ca
n explain it better…if you don’t mind telling Rob.”

  “Not at all, but are you sure you want to…bring all this up?”

  Carlton tightened his lips. “It brings back a lot of…well, bad memories.” He sighed. “But I suppose we have to look at every angle.”

  “As Dale said,” Paul told Rob, “John made a pass at him.”

  “Several passes, actually,” Carlton said.

  “And Dale rebuffed him.”

  “Was there a reason?” Rob asked. “I mean you obviously weren’t interested.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “I don’t understand,” Rob said. “Was he that…what? Unattractive? Did you have something against him?”

  “The truth is,” Paul answered, “he was…I suppose still is…a very handsome man. Slender with grey hair and piercing blue eyes.”

  “You see, Rob,” Carlton continued. “he was partly responsible for the breakup. Between Harvey and me.” He signed again and shook his head. “It sounds so damned sordid. But John, you see, started an affair with Harvey. Oh, it wasn’t as if Harvey and I weren’t already having problems. But that was the final straw. When I found out about the affair, I became angry, enraged.” He paused for a moment. You see, John had been my friend, my best friend at Long Island University, Brooklyn. Two poor kids trying to make it in a harsh world.” He broke off and then resumed. “Sounds like a bad melodrama, right.”

  “It’s all right,” Rob said.

  Carlton smiled. “You say that, but even to my own ears— Well, I might as well get this over with. It seemed that all the time John was really interested in getting together with me. Stupid, isn’t it?”

  “Life happens,” Paul said. “Sometimes you have no control.”

  “The gist of the whole thing is that after Harvey moved out, John made his intentions known. So of course, I was upset. To deliberately try to break Harvey and me up, and do it in such a manner… Well, it made me mad as hell. So when he made a pass it me, I rebuffed him. Even managed not to lose my temper. But he kept trying.”

  Paul tried to ease Carlton’s uneasiness. “And that’s when the accident happened.”

  “The accident?” Rob asked.

  “We had this terrible argument. This time I didn’t hold back. I called every name in the book. The fight, argument intensified till each of us had lost total control. John raced from the building and apparently was so upset he could think of nothing else.”

  “He tried to cross the railroad tracks ahead of the train. He didn’t make it. The train hit his car and dragged it maybe a fourth of a mile before it veered off the tracks.”

  “The car was nothing but scrap metal,” Carlton said. “And John’s left arm was severed just above the elbow.”

  “Luckily,” Paul said. “Someone called emergency immediately, or he’d have bled to death. It seems that for a few months his company had been trying to talk him into moving to the Eugene area. So as soon as he recovered, he decided to go.”

  “But why would he want to kill Harvey?” Rob asked. “Wouldn’t it make more sense—” He suddenly stopped, realizing that what he was about to say could be hurtful.

  “To kill me instead of Harvey? One would think so. But he knew that Harvey and I remained good friends.”

  “What you mean,” Paul interjected, “is that the best way to get revenge would be to kill Harvey.”

  “I hate to think such a thing. But I suppose there’s the chance, though small, I think.”

  “So we have a possible suspect and a possible motive,” Rob said.

  “But a pretty flimsy speculation,” Carlton answered.

  “Nevertheless, we’ll follow up,” Paul said. “See if John’s back in town. See if he’s made any long trips.”

  “So,” Rob said, “are there any other members who quit?”

  “I didn’t think to mention the few men who attended a meeting or two and decided it wasn’t for them. But none of them were around long enough—”

  “Nevertheless,” Rob said, “shouldn’t we check them out? Those we can find. Those we have addresses or phone numbers for.”

  “You’re right,” Carlton said, “I’ll get on it immediately.”

  “And then there’s Mr…. There’s Seth.”

  “Seth Rawlings,” Carlton answered.

  “But he’s above reproach,” Paul said.

  “I certainly hope so,” Carlton answered.

  “Do you think we should at least check up on him?” Rob answered.

  “I suppose we have to…though I can’t imagine he’d commit any crimes whatsoever,” Carlton answered.

  “Low priority then,” Paul said.

  “Anyone else.”

  “One man who died,” Paul said. “Heart attack.”

  “And, of course, Stu Ernest,” Carlton said.

  “Who’s he?” Rob asked.

  “Very shy man,” Paul answered. “Nice guy, but it’s hard to imagine he ever was interested in becoming a member.”

  “Why do you suppose he did then?”

  “To quote a stereotype: It’s the quiet ones—”

  “I think he too is above reproach,” Paul said.

  “Why did he quit the group?” Rob asked.

  “I think it became too much for him,” Paul said.

  “He used the excuse of family problems. A feeble father. A mother with one illness after another.”

  “But can you think of any reason he might be holding a grudge?” Rob asked.

  Paul shrugged. “A very minor one.”

  “What is it?” Rob asked.

  “I think he disapproved of the extremes Harvey went to.”

  “How would he know about that?”

  “Gossip, I suppose,” Carlton said. “And maybe some of the things he saw at the meetings. Though Harvey never got extreme at any of those.”

  Rob shook his head.

  “What is it?” Carlton asked.

  “Nothing really.”

  “Come on, Rob. No holding back.”

  Rob hesitated and then turned to Carlton. “I just can’t imagine you and he—”

  “It wasn’t like that with us. Sure, we each had our fantasies. But when we were together—”

  “I see. No need to explain.”

  Suddenly, there was a noise like someone trying to open the outside door.

  “Who on earth can that be?” Carlton asked.

  “And most of all, why would someone rattle the door? The members have keys. So it has to be someone else.”

  “Homeless person looking for a place to stay?” Carlton asked.

  “I don’t like it,” Paul said as he hurried to the door.

  “Paul!” Rob called. “I’m not sure you should go out there. You don’t know who it could be.”

  “I’m just going to take a peek. Probably scare off whoever it was.” Paul flung open the door in time to see a figure hurrying under the streetlight and one down the sidewalk.

  “Damn,” Carlton said, “that sure looked like Christos.”

  “It certainly did,” Paul answered.

  “Who’s Christos?” Rob asked

  “Remember,” Paul said, “about the two who had your job? One decided to go to Hollywood to try to get into movies. His name was Ron Roman”

  “And the other one got fired for running up the phone bill,” Rob answered.

  “Right,” Paul said. “Well, the person who ran away looked a lot like the one from Greece.”

  “But why would he come back here?”

  “Maybe he’s the one who murdered Harvey,” Carlton said.

  “Just over being fired?” Rob asked.

  “I don’t know,” Paul said. “He could have been holding a grudge all this time. And his anger built up so much—”

  “That he couldn’t hold back anymore but wanted revenge?” Rob said.

  “It seems a little far-fetched, doesn’t it?” Paul asked. “He’d worked at the UN as a translator before we hired him. Spoke several languages,
so it seems he wouldn’t have trouble finding a job.”

  “I didn’t remember that,” Carlton said, “but you’re right. So it seems he wasn’t as much an airhead as he wanted all of use to think.”

  “Yet I never saw any times at the club meetings or when I was with him of his having a temper. I mean he seemed pretty calm and accepting.”

  “I suppose you never know,” Carlton answered.

  “But we really should to talk to him, shouldn’t we?” Rob glanced at the two older men. “And how can we do that? We don’t know where he lives. We don’t know if it’s in New York or whether he came here from somewhere else to…to do what he did to Harvey.”

  “Any why Harvey?” Paul asked. “Why not someone else?”

  “Did he have a particular grudge against him?” Rob asked.

  “Certainly not that I know,” Carlton answered.

  “Nor I.”

  “Maybe he just figured he had to start with someone. Anyone.”

  “Are you implying he may try to kill other members?” Carlton asked.

  “I don’t know. It seems possible.”

  “Then we have to be very careful,” Carlton said. “At least we have to let the other members know he’s back in town.”

  “Is that such a good idea?” Paul asked.

  “Why isn’t it?” Carlton said.

  “For one thing, if the murderer is one of the members and not Christos, it may make them think they can easily commit another murder and have it blamed on Christos.”

  “So you think this could lead to other murders?” Carlton asked. “I mean that Harvey was the first victim of a serial killer?”

  “We certainly can’t rule out that possibility, can we?” Paul answered.

  “If Christos isn’t the killer,” Rob said, “why would he come back to the gym?”

  “Why would he come to the gym at all?” Carlton asked.