“No, not the police. He’s in federal custody. I found this sick fuck beating on the blonde-haired girl that Roz is talking to.”
I wasn’t surprised at all when Sam and James paled and looked at one another. I glanced in the direction of Roz as she walked over to us. She raised her eyebrow at me and glanced down at my hand. I had cleaned it up at a fast-food joint near my house when I went home to see Salem.
“How’s the hand?” Roz asked, giving me away.
“Did you punch this guy?” Sam asked.
“I did. He hurt your girl. He’s lucky that’s all I did. Anyhow, I need Ali to confirm him so I can throw another charge at this animal.”
“Ali and Josh are actually on their way over now. They were coming to have an early dinner with me since I’m working a later shift tonight.”
I nodded. “Then if you don’t mind, I’ll hang around and get her confirmation. Then I don’t have to bother you guys later tonight.”
“That’ll be fine. They should be here any minute,” Sam calmly said. I didn’t know how he could be so calm, though I assumed he had to be calm and collected.
Before I had the chance to ask Roz about how her chats were going with the three victims, Josh and Ali walked in. After we got the pleasantries out of the way, it was time for the unpleasant part. And maybe it wasn’t so bad because they’d have some closure knowing Shane was no longer roaming the streets. However, knowing Shane was somehow part of Sebastian’s ring was unsettling to me. Sebastian was already in prison and never gave a name to anyone else involved. I didn’t know what Shane’s connection was to Sebastian, but I didn’t believe that there wasn’t a connection either.
“Yes, that’s him,” Ali confirmed. “That’s the pig man.” Josh and Sam were both close by when Ali looked at the picture of Shane.
“Okay, thank you, Ali. He’s off the street, and you guys don’t have to worry about him.” I looked at Josh and asked, “Are you still going by your house weekly?”
“Here and there but not on a set schedule. Andrew is staying there,” Josh confirmed before he kissed the top of Ali’s head and told her that he loved her.
“I love you too, Josh,” Ali replied.
That was right. Andrew’s girlfriend had gone on a stabbing spree, and she had been arrested. James handed Sam some keys and then Sam tossed them to Josh.
“Josh, why don’t you and Ali go wait for me in James’ office?”
As Josh and Ali walked out of the emergency room and toward the hallway, I put the phone back in my pocket. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at Roz
“So, what did you get out of them? Anything?” I asked, hoping there’d be something useful.
“Yes, actually. They’ve been very helpful,” Roz said as she flipped through her notepad. “They all mentioned one specific name.” Roz turned her notepad around for us to see the name she had circled.
Elijah.
I looked at James. Both of us loved and were caring for two young people who had been wrecked and tortured by Dr. Elijah Hamilton.
Where are you, you fucking worm?
