“I don’t know. I’m not high up in the ranks. He told me to watch the docks, and I did. He gives me orders on the fly. I don’t know what’s next.” Blood and saliva dripped down his chin.
“Tell me. The people in Lorcan’s inner circle, where can I find them?”
His one eye rounded. “Uh, I don’t know where anyone lives.”
I cracked my neck, releasing some of the pressure that began to build. “No, you fucking idiot. Where do they frequent?”
“Oh…” He swallowed and promptly coughed. “Lorcan goes to a club a lot, I think it’s called Slice or something. He has a VIP spot there, and his number one and two go—Ricky and Gal. They’re the only ones I know, really.”
“I know the place,” Danny said. “Downtown, sorta nice. Not sure how he got in and has been building his empire so much so quietly, though.”
I glanced at the man in the chair. “I don’t suppose you know?” He shook his head rapidly. “Outside of Lorcan’s tight-knit group, what outsiders do you know he’s been talking to?”
He opened his mouth a couple of times, terror filling his face. “I swear, I don’t know much. I’m not high up.”
“You telling me you don’t know who in this town is helping Lorcan out? Not one person?” I motioned to Danny, who moved closer to him.
“Wait!” He shouted and I held up a hand. “Parker, I don’t know his last name, works at the pawn shop on Crowley Ave. Lorcan had me go there a few times to pick up an envelope.”
“So, maybe he’s forced to pay?” Danny shrugged.
“No.” The guy sputtered, and more blood dribbled out of his mouth. “Each time he always smiled, said to tell Lorcan it was a pleasure doing business with him.”
That wasn’t a normal response when someone was being forced to pay. “That’s helpful information.” I walked up to the chair, not touching him because I didn’t want to get blood on my two-thousand-dollar Armani jacket.
“Can I go now? Maybe to a hospital.”
I chuckled and peered over my shoulder at Danny. “You make sure to take care of him.”
“Of course, Boss.”
I spun on my heels and left the warehouse in favor of the warm SUV. Danny would make it quick. I texted my cleanup crew to get here, then ordered two of my guys to drive to the pawn shop, check it out, and get info on this Parker fellow.
Fifteen minutes later, Danny hopped into the SUV. “Where to?”
“Home. I have Tate and Carl checking out the pawn shop since Matteo is home and doesn’t need them for the rest of the night. I can’t waltz into Slice, at least not yet. I have to know whose hands Lorcan has greased to gain power in this town while keeping me from knowing.”
“You got it.”
The cleaning crew was pulling up to the warehouse as we left. Danny drove, and I stared at my cell phone. I wasn’t sure if Penn or Alex had sent the singular text:I am Batman.
I had people watching him too, and word as of this morning was that he’d rented a pickup truck and had started packing it up. Penn was leaving town.
That night after dinner,while I was in my office, my phone vibrated. Alan’s name lit up the screen.
“Yes, Alan.”
“Hey, Mr. Hendrix.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, see, Penn came in to collect his last paycheck, said he wasn’t staying, you know?” I did know.
“Okay.”
“Well.” It was just then that I realized he was whispering.
“What’s going on, Alan?”
