with the parole officer or the phone call to the dealership that tipped somebody off, but the fallout from my probe occurred quickly.”
“How quick?”
“Jack Mercy was waiting for me in my office when I returned from lunch the day after the phone call. I recognized him from media coverage and greeted him as Mr. Mercy. A hard expression washed over his features, and he said ‘you used to call me Uncle Jack.’ He didn’t look like the smiling honorary uncle who used to show up for all my big occasions. His dark hair was snowy white, and there wasn’t a trace of a smile to be found. His eyes were as black and as cold as a shark’s. Do you know what I mean? Have you ever looked into the soleless eyes of a predator?” Jude asked, his voice shaking.
Felix thought of Franco Humphries, the serial-rapist-and-killer case that had brought Rocky and Jonah into his life. The three of them were asked to join an unauthorized task force to bring the man down, and they had succeeded. Felix had interviewed the man afterward. Looking into his eyes was just as Jude described.
“I have.”
Jude swallowed hard. “I asked him what he wanted. Mercy told me he was in the neighborhood and wanted to drop by. Then he expressed regret for not looking in on me after my father died. Once I connected Uncle Jack to Jack Mercy, the crime boss, I was too stunned to say much. Before he left, Mercy sized me up and said, ‘You’re more like your father than I ever realized.’ He didn’t make it sound like much of a compliment. His parting words were to pass on his love to my mother.”
“Son of a bitch,” Felix growled.
“I confronted my mother, which is what he wanted the entire time. She tearfully explained that my father had been one of Mercy’s accountants and he hadn’t died of natural causes. The official police report says it was a botched carjacking, but there was a jack of hearts playing card tucked inside his suit coat pocket. Mom found it when the police returned Dad’s personal belongings.”
Felix covered Jude’s hand on the table. “I’m so fucking sorry, Jude. It must’ve felt like losing your dad all over again.”
“It was awful,” Jude said. “Once I knew the truth, other memories became clearer, and a devastating picture formed. Someone had burglarized our house on the day of Dad’s burial. Can you imagine coming home from the cemetery to find your house ransacked?”
“Christ. No, I can’t.”
“It didn’t occur to me then, but the robbers didn’t take any of our big-ticket items. Our appliances and electronics were still there, as well as my mom’s jewelry. Our drawers were tipped out, and even our mattresses were cut open. My dad’s office took the brunt of it. They’d even pulled the wainscoting off the wall in his room to make sure there were no hidden passages or rooms. His safe looked like someone had blasted it with a shotgun. I was too distraught to understand what the hell was going on, and from that moment forward, my mom did everything she could to shield me from Jack Mercy. I never saw the man again.”
“Until he appeared in your office.”
Jude nodded. “Dad had decided to turn Jack in to the FBI. She thinks Dad knew his days were numbered, and that’s why we went to the Braves game.” Jude’s voice cracked, so he cleared his throat. “I’m so grateful for the experience, and I’ll cherish the baseball for as long as I live.”
“As you should. It’s a wonderful memory.”
“I went a little crazy after I found out the truth. My mother insisted Jack must’ve retrieved the evidence when his goons ransacked our home because he’d left us alone all these years. I figured she was right, but I just couldn’t let it go. Remember the friend in law enforcement I told you about?”
Felix bit back a snarl. “I recall.”
Jude leaned forward and kissed him soundly on the mouth. “You still have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. Your amber irises turn a darker shade of brown when you’re jealous.”
“Bullshit,” Felix said.
Jude chuckled. “Pay attention. We’re getting to the sex club part.”
“I’m listening.” Felix was wide awake now.
“My friend is an undercover cop who works at the club. That’s how I was able to get my membership. He set me up under a false identity. I went there to scope things out and saw Jack Mercy talking to