“What did you tell him?”
“I said you’d run security for Harrison during the arsons and I’d met you then. You’d asked me about the Charles Macklin case and that I’d not known much.”
“And he said?”
“That if you came sniffing again, to keep everything about the raids under wraps,” Randall said.
“And is that what you plan to do?” Dash asked, tensing.
Randall sighed. “Why don’t you tell me what you know and I’ll decide from there?”
Dash was leery. Randall could be fishing to see what he knew. “Seems like a one-sided plan. What do I get out of it?”
“My continued silence,” Randall murmured.
Dash drew in a steadying breath. “Blackmail?”
“No,” Randall said. “But I think I’ve already done one favor for you. It’s time you pay up.”
Dash searched his face. Considering he had very little so far, he opted for the truth.
“I’ve basically told you what I have. A missing alpha I connected with the Dragon. He went missing around the time of the previous raid there.”
“You mentioned other alphas missing,” Randall said.
“A reporter outside the Municipal Center made that claim with your commander at the press conference I stumbled on. I was hoping you could help me substantiate that claim, given the possibility the man I’m looking for might be one name on a list of many.”
Randall leaned closer. “Which reporter?”
Dash shrugged. “I’ll share more if you do.”
Randall watched him a moment. “Did he mentionhow manywere missing?”
“He claims there have been…” Dash paused to check his notes. “Eight raids in six months with a missing or dead alpha corresponding to nearly all.”
Randall nodded, glancing out the small, round window beside them. He looked lost in thought.
“Arethe claims true?” Dash asked.
Randall released a long, slow breath before unzipping a backpack at his side. He came out with several thick files and laid them on the table. He opened up the first just as Emerson returned to the salon. Randall lifted his gaze to his brother.
“We’re as far out as we can go without reaching the outer seawall,” Emerson said.
“Thank you,” Randall said. He turned his attention back to Dash. “By my count, there are eleven missing alphas. An even dozen if I don’t have your client’s name on my list.”
Dash’s brows furrowed. “How have that many missing men not been noticed?”
“From what I’ve gathered, most are outcasts. Criminals,” Randall said, sliding page after page of rap sheets. “They don’t have solid relationships with their family. Many are sex workers. A couple of them were hardcore drug users living on the streets. All were men polite society wouldn’t really miss.”
“Yetsomeoneobviously did,” Dash said.
“Other sex workers. Friends in low places. People easily dismissed and gaslit. Their reports went nowhere,” Randall said. “Until I found them.”
Emerson crossed to the table. “Can I join?”
“This might be better between Dash and I,” Randall said.
“I mightknowsome of these men,” Emerson said. “I’m the only one here who’s part of that world.”
