better than nothing. Lucy told me it’s absolutely terrible sludge more than coffee,” Noah adds, reaching for the door and pulling it open.
“Find anything?” I ask, nodding my head at Kenton who looks up from a stack of files in front of him.
“Yeah, maybe,” Noah says.
“Oh yeah?” I press. “What do you think he’s got?”
“Guess, we’ll find out.”
“Morning boys,” Kenton says, and I reach over, shaking his hand. He doesn’t offer it to Noah, but I think it’s more of a lifelong feud at this point. “Productive night for everyone?” he asks.
“It was. Thank God for that,” Noah murmurs.
“What about you, Chief?” I ask, sitting down at a desk.
“Yeah. I found a couple of things that I think will be useful. None of it’s good, of course.”
“Yeah I figured,” I say with a nod of my head.
“So, who wants to go first?” he asks, and we turn, looking at each other.
“Well,” I say, “I guess I’ll go first. I went over to Denny’s place.” I nod my head as Kenton makes a groaning sound. “Yep, that’s the one.”
“God. If I told you how many times I was called out there for drunken disorderly conduct or assault charges…” he shakes his head in dismay. “It’s a madhouse over there.”
“It is for sure, but if there’s anything shady going on and no one knows about it, well, then Denny probably does.”
Noah groans, “I fucking hate that scumbag. He seems to think that he can rise to power, take over my territory like I’m―” he’s cut off by a steely glare from the Kenton. “You know what I’m talking about,” he says, turning to me and shaking his head. “The man is low. He walks around like he’s the king of his town when in reality he’s just another low-level sleaze doing everything he can to make a dime by ripping people off.”
“Yeah, I agree. That sounds like him for sure.”
“So anyway, I went to Denny’s place and it was trashed as ever. Cigarette, smoke, cigars, women. Denny was there making an ass of himself. As always, and he invited me back to a private room and tells me that he has some information for me,” I say censoring myself a little. I don’t want to tip off the chief of police about my agreement to transport a package for him to the other side of the state across state lines.
“And he just tells you that he’s going to help you?” Kenton frowns, knowing that I’m leaving something out. “Why would he―”
“Something you got to understand about me,” I say with a cocky grin hoping to distract him with ego, “people don’t mess with me. I’m not the kind of guy you fuck around with. I come into your joint and I ask you a question. You answer or you’re on the ground,” I say cracking my knuckles. I notice the corner of Noah’s lips twitch as if he’s fighting a smile. Kenton appears to be nodding his head gesturing for me to continue with the story. “So anyway, we go back there. He tells me he’s got a name for me, says the kid had a place in town where he used to take girls. The new girl says he ain’t there anymore. He didn’t take her to an apartment when she went home with him.”
“Where’s he taking the newer girls?” Kenton asks.
“Some place out in the woods. Denny seems to think that he’s squatting, though. Who knows if he’s right? For all we know, the kid rented some crappy cabin.”
Noah nods. “There’s certainly a lot of those out here.”
“Yep, I agree. He also told me that he is a regular and that he comes most nights. He hasn’t been in in the last two or three nights, but he says as soon as he hears anything he’s gonna give me a call.”
“Awful sweet of him,” Kenton murmurs.
I shrug. “I bring out the best in people.”
Kenton gives me a bland stare and Noah snorts to the left.
“Alright, well the two of you are done acting like schoolboys. Let’s get on with business then. Noah, what did you find?”
“No, no,” I say, shaking his head. “I’m not telling you anything until you tell us what you know,” Noah challenges.
“You don’t think I’ll tell you what I know?” Kenton asks.
“I know you won’t share what you know. You made it perfectly clear how you feel about vigilantes,” Noah argues, crossing his arm in defiance.
“Alright,” Kenton sighs. “Fine, I’ll go first. As far as the