Mateo

I followed Alex to his car directly after General Chemistry. There was a manila folder on the passenger seat. I picked it up and set it on my lap.

"What's this?" I asked.

"I've been collecting my phone records ever since Jason started blackmailing me," Alex said. "I want to have the evidence ready to make it easier for the police."

"That's a good idea," I said.

Alex pulled out of the parking lot and drove through the streets. He was unusually quiet and his face was serious.

"It's going to be alright," I said. I wasn't sure I believed that, but I wanted him to believe it. I reached across the seat and squeezed his thigh. He smiled at me. It was strained, but still a smile. His hand clasped onto mine.

We pulled into the police parking lot. He let go of my hand and I started to open the door to get out, but he hesitated.

"Do you want to do this another day?" I asked.

"No," Alex said. He opened the door and got out quickly. I walked beside him as we crossed the parking lot and entered the main door.

"What can we do for you?" the female officer behind the front desk asked.

"Someone is blackmailing me," Alex said. "I would like to report it."

She nodded. "Have a seat for a moment and I'll get someone to come take your statement."

We waited about five minutes before a male officer came out to greet us. We stood up. "You want to report blackmail?" he asked us even though we were the only ones waiting. Alex nodded his head. "Come on back," he said. He led the way through a secured door. Beyond it was an open room with several desks. Some were empty. Some had uniformed officers sitting at them. They all seemed busy. There was a general hum as officers spoke on the phone or with each other or civilians who were assumedly reporting crimes like we were.

As we walked he said, "I'm Officer Hunt. Detective Garcia is going to handle your case. He is currently on his way back to the station so I'll go ahead and take your statement and he'll join us if he gets back in time."

The officer rounded his desk and indicated with his hand for us to sit in the two seats in front of his desk.

As we sat, he typed something in his computer before turning back to us. "Which one of you is being blackmailed? Or are you both being blackmailed?"

"I am," Alex said. He clasped his hands together tightly in his lap. I almost reached over to take his hand, but I wasn't sure if he wanted me to or if it would be appropriate in this setting so I didn't.

"What is your full name?" the officer asked.

"Alex Wyvern Lundquist, but my last name used to be Madsen. I changed it to my mom's maiden name when my parents got divorced."

"Your middle name is Wyvern?" the officer asked with a smile I couldn't discern. He typed the information into the computer.

Alex nodded.

"That's awesome," the officer said. He took the rest of Alex's information and then glanced at me. "And what is your relation to all this?" he asked me.

"I'm here to support him," I said.

"He's my boyfriend," Alex said without any hesitation.

The officer's expression didn't change at all as if this revelation was no big deal, a common day occurrence that shouldn't warrant any reaction.

"Tell me the details about the blackmailing," the officer said.

"It started last year in high school," Alex said. He took out his phone and handed it across the desk to the officer. The original text from Jason was already open. The officer took the phone, but didn't look at it right away. He typed in more information before he looked at the texts.

"What's the video clip?" he asked.

"He recorded us having sex. I didn't know he was recording."

"You were in high school?"

Alex nodded.

"And it was taken without your consent?"

"Yes."

"How old were you? 17? Because we might be able to add child pornography charges."

Alex shook his head. "No. I had turned 18 by then."

Officer Hunt continued to type in all the information. "What about your blackmailer. Jason? How old was he?"

My heart tightened. Was it all right for an 18 year old to have sex with a 17 year old? Was that considered statutory rape? Would Alex end up being the one in trouble here? I never thought to look up the laws for that.

"He was 18 too," Alex said. "His birthday is the end of August, mine is the middle of September, the video was taken at the end of September."

The officer took out earphones from a desk drawer and plugged them into Alex's phone. He clicked on the video. His expression never changed as he watched it. He scrolled down through Jason's text messages and clicked on another video.

Alex's fingers trembled ever so slightly, but other than that he didn't give any indication that this was difficult for him. I reached over and squeezed his knee. He gave me a grateful smile.

I had never seen the clips or the video. I never wanted to. I didn't want to see the man I loved in the heat of passion with another man - another man who betrayed him.

The officer put the earphones back away and typed again before he said, "It's good you've kept all these texts. We have evidence against him. The text says he posted part of the video online, do you know where?"

Alex nodded and told him.

"I advise getting a lawyer to help you get the video taken down. It will help that you have a police report now," the officer said. "He didn't contact you for a year. Why did he stop contacting you after the initial blackmail?"

"I paid him," Alex said.

I gasped before I could stop it. "You told me Vincent handled it," I said.

"Vincent and Trevon and everyone else believes that is what happened," Alex said. "But really, Jason doesn't care about his family. Vincent threatening to fire his parents from the plastic manufactory isn't enough for Jason to stop blackmailing me. I paid him the money. Don't tell Vincent or anyone else though. Let them believe they handled it."

I nodded and settled back into my seat not sure how to process this new information.

"You paid him the full hundred thousand?" the officer asked not phased at all by our little exchange. He was nothing but professional.

"No, I paid him half that," I said.

"How did you pay him? Cash?" His fingers clicked away at the keyboard.

"No," Alex said. "We went to my bank and I transferred the money to his bank account."

The officer laughed.

"What is it?" Alex asked.

"Sorry," the officer said. "This guy blackmailing you is just a real idiot. He is leaving evidence everywhere."

"I don't think he ever expected me to report it," Alex said. "People often underestimate me."

The officer nodded and looked at Alex with admiration. I didn't like it. I needed to relax. It wasn't like the officer was gay and now had a crush on my boyfriend...was it? Maybe he was. I reached out and took Alex's hand in mine. The officer's eyes flickered to our clasped hands briefly - so quickly if I hadn't been watching him I wouldn't have noticed - and then back to the computer screen.

"This isn't just a blackmail charge," the officer said professionally. "This is also unlawful surveillance. Are you prepared for the full video to come out because honestly even if we arrest him and he ends up going to jail, even if we find the video on his computer or phone or where ever else, it's out there now and the parts he has already posted could be saved and reposted by anyone."

"I'm prepared," Alex said. I squeezed his hand. I was proud of him.

A man in his mid thirties wearing a suit came up behind Officer Hunt and gave him a few light nudges on the shoulder. Hunt looked up at the new man and stood up. The man sat in the chair and began to read the report on the screen. Officer Hunt grabbed a nearby chair and pulled it over so there were now two chairs behind the desk.

"This is Detective Garcia," Officer Hunt said. The detective's eyes landed on us for the first time and he gave us a slight nod before he went back to reading the report. I didn't get the impression that he was trying to be rude, more that he was just too focused on his work.

Detective Garcia stood up and indicated for Officer Hunt to switch places with him, which Hunt did.

"Is this your phone?" Detective Garcia spoke for the first time.

"Yes," Alex said.

"It has the texts on it and the video clips," Officer Hunt said.

Detective Garcia looked through the messages.

"I did bring the phone records that show the texts," Alex said. He nudged me and I suddenly remembered the folder I held. I handed it over to Officer Hunt. "I've also included my bank statement that shows the transfer last year to his account," Alex went on. "And," he pulled a thumb drive from his pocket, "I put all the clips of the videos he sent to me on this."

"Were you afraid we would take your phone as evidence?" Officer Hunt asked.

Alex blushed. I usually liked it when he blushed but with thoughts swirling in my head that Officer Hunt might be gay and like Alex, I didn't like it.

"You have headphones?" Detective Garcia asked Officer Hunt.

"Top drawer," Officer Hunt said.

The detective took out the earphones and plugged them into the phone. Then he clicked on the video. Was it really necessary for them to watch it? Alex squeezed my hand this time. I must have showed something of my discomfort on my face. I didn't like that. I had to be strong for Alex.

The detective put the earphones away and looked through the papers in the folder. "You've done a good job compiling evidence."

Then he looked back at the computer screen that Officer Hunt now sat in front of.

"What is Jason's last name?" Detective Garcia asked.

"Ellis," Alex said. "Jason Ellis."

Detective Garcia nudged Officer Hunt's arm again, but Hunt was already typing. He stopped. One of Hunt's eyebrows raised and he and Detective Garcia exchanged a look.

"What is it?" I asked.

Detective Garcia shook his head and said, "Let's just say that Mr. Ellis has not been a good boy. I'm sorry to ask something so personal, but during intercourse with Mr. Ellis, did he wear a condom?"

Alex's face turned beet red. "Yes."

"Are you sure? Because if not, you need to go get tested," Detective Garcia said plainly, but not unkindly.

"I'm sure. He wore a condom. I made him."

"Good," Garcia said. "You're smart. Make this one wear a condom too." He indicated me and it was my turn to blush. "Can't be too careful."

"I will," Alex said with a smirk on his face as he watched me blush.

"Here's my card," Detective Garcia pulled out a business card and handed it to Alex. "We'll keep you updated, but I do suggest you get a lawyer. It will be easier to get the footage taken off these websites with a lawyer."

Alex nodded and he and I stood up. "Thank you," Alex said. The relief in his voice was obvious.

We both shook Detective Garcia's hand.

"I'll lead you out," Officer Hunt said.

He took us back out through the secure door before shaking both of our hands and heading back inside.