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“We got a hit on your would-be rapist.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You were looking for him?”
Whisper gives me a hard look. “Of course I was. My brother Boone found out his address and established his routine. He’s playing pickleball tonight and usually leaves in about twenty minutes. Then he heads over to Danny’s Bar and Grill.”
“Danny’s. Isn’t that place pretty sketchy?”
“Yep. It’s been raided several times for drugs and gang violence.”
“Interesting choice for a guy like that. He gave me frat bro vibes.”
Whisper swipes up on his screen. “Boone says the guy, Jim Hamilton, is twenty-five. He works at a major financial company in the city, and get this—he’s a member of the Baptist church.”
“What?”
“He was engaged to a pretty little thing but she broke it off three months ago and went to South America.”
“Ooh, tea.”
“And he had some sealed records that Boone was able to hack. Before he was twenty-one, he was arrested for assault twice and statutory rape, did some time in juvey, then his church stepped in and he disappeared for a few years. When he resurfaces, he gets a solid job and a fiancée, but apparently some habits die hard.”
“Interesting. Does he hang out in queer places often?”
“Almost exclusively. He’s a repeat offender for sure.”
“What a scumbag.”
“He is.”
“Danny’s bar isn’t gay though, right?”
“No. I’m guessing that’s where he gets his drug supplies.”
“Oh, right. Gross.”
Whisper nods. “Can you get off early?”
A slow smile spreads across my lips as I realize why he’s asking. “I could come with you?”
“I assume you’d want to.”
“What are you gonna do?”
“The question is, what are we gonna do? If you’re in, then let’s do this. If not, I’m happy to take care of it.”
“Hell yeah I’m in. I’ll go talk to the manager. Give me fifteen.”
He smiles. “I’ll be here.”
I hurry backstage to change into street clothes, and with a bounce in my step, I find the manager working tonight.
“Julio, I gotta go.”
“Go? We don’t close for two more hours.”
“I know. Something came up. Family shit, you know.”
He narrows his eyes. “Your family has had a lot of stuff coming up lately.”
