Jack wasn’t sure what to do now. He was exposed and Iris could easily spot him. At this point, though, he wasn’t sure he cared. As much as he hated lying, part of him just wanted to admit what he was doing. It would be easier that way. If she needed anything, he was of a mind to simply give it to her. She wouldn’t be going hungry or lacking for clothes or anything like that if he had a say. Athena felt the same way. This mission was her idea, to start with.
But if Iris saw him snooping around, she might automatically assume he was being creepy. He couldn’t blame her, either. It was kind of strange that he was prowling about outside her place. What else was she to think?
Except he didn’t see Iris anywhere. Instead, a man walked from the direction of the apartment, crossing the sidewalk in front of Jack, nearly colliding with him.
“Watch it, pal,” the guy grunted.
He threw the cardboard box he was carrying at the curb, rubbed his hands together and clapped them a couple of times as if trying to clear dust or dirt from them, then headed back toward the small building.
He stopped walking upon noticing Jack was still there. “What do you want?”
This guy was all charm.
It was at this moment that Jack decided to throw stealth out the window. Was this guy somehow connected to Iris? Was hemaking things difficult for her in some way? If Athena feared she was in some sort of trouble, could this guy be the root of it?
Jack would press him until he found out.
“I’m looking for Iris Dawson.”
“Get lost.”
Jack had the feeling the man’s reluctance to talk about Iris didn’t stem from protecting her privacy. Instead, it was from annoyance.
That fact was confirmed when he opened his mouth again. “She doesn’t live here anymore. So, like I told you, get lost. I don’t know what she was doing… hooking, probably… but I don’t want any johns stopping by here. This place is closed for business.”
Jack felt his anger rising, but he fought hard to rein it in. He represented the LAPD. Even though he was on personal business, it would give the Department a black eye if he lost his temper and decked this guy.
It would give the rude little man a black eye, too, of course, and that might be worth it.
But Jack wasn’t ready to lose his badge over something so stupid. Besides, the department had enough bad publicity to deal with. So, he kept his temper in check. It did give him an idea, though.
“I’m not a john and she’s not a hooker.” He fished the badge out from his pocket and flashed it.
Now, instead of anger it was a smile he suppressed. The man’s demeanor instantly changed upon realizing he was dealing with a cop. Jack wasn’t one to bully people with his badge, but in some cases, there was a certain satisfaction in the effect it had on people.
This was one of those cases.
“What did she do?”
And with that, the rising anger was back. Why did this guy just assume Iris was doing something wrong? Probably because she didn’t have any money, Jack realized. This was clearly one of those pricks that judged people based upon their financial situation. All impoverished people were probably criminals to him.
“Nothing. Where did she go?”
“Huh?”
“You said she doesn’t live here anymore. But she did as of recently. Where did she go?”
The man cleared his throat and shifted nervously on his feet. “She was evicted. Earlier this evening.”
A loud car rolled down the street. Another came just a few seconds later, its thumping bass rattling the whole block.
Jack waited for them to pass and then said, “Did she leave anything behind?”
“No.”
“What’s that stuff you’re hauling out?”
The man cleared his throat again. Jack heard wheels rolling on the sidewalk and turned to see a kid about eighteen or so coming toward them on a skateboard. He stepped out of the way, but the rude guy didn’t make an effort to move. The kid went around him, forcing his wheels to go off the pavement and into the grassy side yard for a second. He cursed under his breath but kept on going.
