The guy still didn’t seem fazed.
Asshole, Jack thought.
“I don’t have to tell you shit. You got a warrant?”
“No.”
The guy grunted then said, “That’s just junk the old lady that owned this place left behind.” He stared hard at Jack. “What’s this all about?”
“I’m just trying to find Ms. Dawson.”
“What did she do?”
Jack’s anger must have showed on his face, because the man actually backed up a pace, seemingly afraid he was going to get punched or something.
Good,Jack thought.Let him sweat.
“Not a thing. This is a welfare check.”
Of course, that was only partially true. It wasn’t an official welfare check, which would be conducted by a uniformed officer, not a detective. But this guy probably didn’t know that. Besides, was he really going to call the LAPD and ask if anyone had been officially dispatched to the residence?
Doubtful.
“Well, she was fine the last time I saw her. Maybe an hour ago.” He narrowed his eyes. “She didn’t call you, did she? Make me out to be a bad guy? Hey, I evicted her fair and square. Followed the law and even had a sheriff’s deputy with me. She can’t pin anything on me.” He jerked a thumb against his chest.
Okay, now it was official: Jack wanted nothing more than to punch the guy.
Again, he kept that desire in check, though. He couldn’t stand rogue officers who abused their power. He wasn’t about to become one.
No matter how much some asshole annoyed him.
“As I stated, this is a welfare check. Did she say where she was going?”
“No. And I don’t care. I just don’t want her saying I did anything. Like I said, there was a deputy here. He witnessed the whole thing and if that little whore says?—"
The man gasped as Jack closed the gap between them, his body now a mere inch away. Standing so close the height difference was on full display, Jack towered above the man like a mighty oak growing beside a shrub.
“You’ll watch your mouth,” Jack growled.
He wasn’t a cop right now. He was in full Daddy mode.
“What the hell? Seriously?” the guy said. But from the way his voice quivered, and his body trembled, it was clear he was terrified. He gulped and then said, “Look, she took off on foot. That way.” He backed up so he could raise his arm and hook a thumb over his shoulder to indicate the path behind him. “If it helps, she said she didn’t have money for a hotel and no family or anyone to stay with. So you might find her just walking around.”
Jack’s blood was boiling. “So, you kicked that poor girl out without anywhere to go? No options? Just turned her out on the street like a heartless bastard?”
For a moment, the man looked somewhat contrite. But it faded quickly as his nostrils flared, his cheeks burning red with anger.
“Hey, screw you, pal. I don’t have to answer to you, badge or no badge. I followed the letter of the law. Did everything by the books. Now get off my property.”
Jack didn’t move. “We’re on the sidewalk, asshole. It’s not your property.”
The man deflated a bit.
He thought of giving the guy a business card, in case Iris came back by. There were two things wrong with that, though.
First, she most likely wouldn’t be back. Who would want to see this asshat again?
Second, Jack didn’t want this guy having his info. He was the type to turn around and file a complaint with the city. Might even lawyer up and sue.
