“Yeah, he was definitely loud.”
She snickered. “You know you’re still his favorite. Anyway, I’m out of here. Nice meeting you, Jonah.”
After she left, Hayden started his computer. His desktop background was of Robocop, his favorite film. He had made me watch it twice with him, including the shitty sequels. He was about to open one of the folders when there was another knock on the door.
My breath caught in my throat when the Chief walked in. He was as tall as Hayden, with gray hair and a gray mustache. While Hayden wore civilian clothes, the Chief wore his uniform like he had been born in it. His hawk nose set under two dark eyes that looked straight at me. I’d met him twice in my life, and he’d been friendly, but the circumstances were different now.
I hurried to my feet, though that might’ve made me seem even more suspicious.
“Working late?” The Chief’s voice was as deep as a rolling thunder.
“We’re not working,” Hayden said stiffly, “just searching online for good places to eat.”
“I see. Jonah, nice to see you again.”
“Hello, sir.” I cleared my throat. “We can’t decide on where to go for pizza. Any recommendations?”
“Are you still vegetarian?”
His memory caught me by surprise. “I am.”
“Try Alfred and Sons. Thick slices, plenty of cheese. They’re generous with their vegetable toppings.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “We’ll go there.”
The Chief nodded and asked Hayden, “Is everything okay with you?”
“Sure. Any reason it shouldn’t be?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You tell me.”
“Everything’s fine, sir.”
“Okay, then.” He turned around. “Have a nice evening, you two. Enjoy your pizza.”
Alone again, Hayden slumped onto the chair next to me, rubbing his face. I wondered if I should offer him the banana toy.
“He shouldn’t have seen you here,” he muttered. “Fuck.”
“We got out okay.”
“He didn’t buy it.”
“Then maybe we should leave.”
“No.” He turned to face me, the familiar stubbornness in his eyes. “We’re doing this.” He opened the file with the mugshots. “I know we’re searching for Bo, but you might also come across other people who worked there. Don’t dismiss a face you don’t immediately recognize. I’ll go order pizza. Be back in a sec.”
Once alone, I grabbed the banana toy and squeezed it.
Just photos. I was just going to look through some photos in the hope of coming across the monster I had fought years to forget. Easy peasy.
Hayden returned as I began clicking between rapists’ mugshots. He moved behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. I flinched and shook him off. “I don’t want you touching me while I’m looking through rapists.”
He stepped back, and I continued to click.
*
Two hours passed before my body froze in shock. Bobby Doyle, arrested at the age of twenty-five in Oakland for rape. He seemed younger than when I’d met him, but I would recognize that angry glare for as long as I lived.
