A few minuteslater, the message tone beeps. Grabbing the phone, I see her text.“Hey sexy, just wondering what you’re doing. I had a great nightwith you, even the car tailing was fun. Did you look at thepictures on your phone yet? Anything helpful to your case? Hope so.Anyways, just thought I would text cuz I couldn’t sleep. I’ve beenreminiscing about that kiss. Call me or text me. The phone is by myhead.” Katie.
I draw in adeep breath then sigh, she really is amazing. Still, if I really docare about her, I’d protect her and let her go.
* * *
It’s morning.My father bangs on the bedroom door, “I’m leaving, Jules.”
I holler back,“Where to?”
“Parole officeand then to the job search place. I’ll see you later.”
I stay in beduntil I know he’s left then go to the kitchen for coffee. There’s anote on the counter, “I’ve been thinking. Maybe we should just letsleeping dogs lie. Forget Fournier, we have each other. That’s allthat matters now.”
Sweet words,Dad, but fuck that. I’m not letting that drug dealing piece of shitget away with ruining our lives. I crumple the note and toss itinto the garbage.
Today, I’mgoing to get shit done with the case I’m working on. I’m not goingto fuck around anymore. Jason had a no bullshit approach to doingthis work, and so will I. It’s time to get serious.
I spend themorning thinking up a plan of attack for the day. I’m going to waituntil noon and then go to Fournier’s pub. I’ll buy a drink or twofor one of the regulars and then show them Allen’s picture. If oneof the guys we saw last night was him, he’s probably been therebefore. Someone is sure to recognize him. I’ll just have to becareful that I don’t stand out too much. I don’t want to alertFournier that I’m snooping around.
I dress down inblue jeans, a baseball cap and a jean jacket. I don’t even put onmake up
* * *
Once inside thebar, I stop and let my eyes adjust. There’s a large pool table inthe middle of the room. A long bar runs half the length of the puband small rickety tables are placed throughout. The bartender lookslike a bushman. He’s got a huge barrel belly and a long redstraggly mustache and beard. He’s been watching me since I came in.Then, I zone in on two old men sitting at a table in the backcorner. Casually, I walk across the stained red carpet and sit at anearby table. I strike up a conversation with the old guys who seemhappy to engage with me as we talk about the weather and othermeaningless things. Every time I look over at the bar, the bushmanis looking my way. When the waitress comes over, I buy the men around of draft. After an hour, I casually tell them that I’mlooking for my little brother, Allen. I describe him to them.
One of the menasks if I have a picture? When I pass the photo to them, they looklong and hard before telling me they don’t recognize him. Then, oneof the old codgers tells me, “There’s a lot of youngsters comingand going from this place. It’s hard to tell one from another.”Interesting, but not a news flash. If Fournier is still a dealer,which I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be, then, he probably has alot of young people pushing dope for him. With the bartenderbecoming more interested in me, I decide to hit the trail.
Just as I’mwalking towards the entrance, the front door opens and the threeyoung guys from the parking lot last night walk in. Now that I’mcloser, I immediately recognize Allen’s face. The three walk up tothe bar and sit on stools. The bartender leans over and speaksquietly to them then picks up a red phone that’s attached to thewall. I slow my pace as I walk past them. When the bartender hangsup the phone, he leads them to a red door at the back of the room.When it opens, they enter and the door shuts. I’ve got to dosomething. I’ve got to call Allen’s parents. I don’t want to callthe cops, considering what I know about Fournier. The bartenderwalks through the red door and behind the bar. He looks at me. “CanI help you with something?” he sneers.
“Umm…yeah. Iwas wondering if you sell food here?”
He points to asmall flyer size menu on the counter. I walk up and sit on a stool.After I order a burger and onion rings, I tell the bartender thatI’ll be right back and then head to the washroom. I quickly go intoa stall and lock the door behind me. My hands are shaking, as Ifumble through my wallet and find Allen’s mother’s number. Iquickly punch her digits into my phone. Thankfully, she answers onthe first ring. Just then, I hear the bathroom door open and close.I barely give Amanda Caulfield time to respond after I whisper thatI found her son and where she can find him. When I come out of thestall, the waitress is standing at the mirror pretending to fingerbrush her hair. Her eyes look suspiciously at mine. She waslistening to me. Shit. I walk past her and exit the washroom. Itake a seat on the stool and watch as the waitress calls thebartender to the opposite end of the counter. As she speaks, shelooks at me. Fuck. This isn’t good. My heart is pounding and mylegs are shaking.
After fifteenminutes of sitting and wondering what to do next, a portly womanholding a hamburger on a plate, walks out of a door behind the barand hands the burger to the bartender. He walks it over to mewithout saying anything and sets it down. I lift up the top bun andlook at the sawdust patty. Who
