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“He looks like a clown.”
Tanner smiled at that. “Don’t say that around him. Trust me. I found out the hard way. He doesn’t like being called a clown.” He opened the gate and stepped through. We were in a small entry section. Tanner opened the inner gate and I followed, shutting the gates behind us.
“Uh, excuse me?”
I looked over and saw an older woman, forties or fifties, blonde hair, tight jogging outfit, arms crossed, short blonde hair.
“What?” Tanner asked.
“You can’t come in here if you don’t have a dog,” she said, enunciating like she was talking to morons. “It’s a dog park. Not a people park.”
Tanner made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “Shoo,” he said.
“Excuse me?” The woman’s neck curved back like he slapped her.
“Sorry,” I said. “We’re meeting a friend. Who has a dog. So we’re dog-adjacent?”
She looked at me and made a face. “Is this guy insane? What’s with you people?”
“The gnat keeps making noise,” Tanner said.
I looked up at the sky then back to the woman. “Sorry,” I said.
She made a disgusted face but didn’t follow us as we hurried over to Lee. He looked up and his face brightened once he spotted the bag hanging from Tanner’s shoulder.
“You made it,” Lee said.
“Had to get past the dog park cop over there,” Tanner said.
Lee rolled his eyes. “Hate people like that,” he said. “Acting like they’re the authority. Entitled, spoiled little—”
“I got your money,” Tanner said, interrupting him.
“Great.” Lee crossed his arms then looked at me. “I guess this is the girl everyone’s been talking about.”
Tanner stepped closer to Lee. “You never saw her.”
Lee held up his hands. “Whatever, man. I really don’t want to get involved. At least, not more involved than I already am. I just need you to get me out of this bullshit with Hog.”
Tanner took off the duffel and shoved it at Lee, who took the bag and weighed it in his hands.
“I won’t count it,” Lee said.
“You’re a prince.” Tanner looked out over the park. “How’s the dog?”
“Fine,” Lee said. “I tried this new food. I think she’d constipated.”
“She’s getting humped,” I said and pointed. Out in the field, Mookie was getting assaulted by the black Lab.
“Hey!” Lee shouted. “Mookie! Get off!”
The black Lab hopped off Mookie and scrambled away. The short-haired blonde woman glared over at us like she wanted to call the cops.
“Your turn,” Tanner said. “Where’s Bennigan been staying?”
“Oh, yeah, right. You’re gonna love this.” Lee grinned at him. “Remember that job he did a couple months ago? Killed that guy in his house?”
“Made the papers,” Tanner said. “Sloppy work.”
“Yeah, well, the house has been empty ever since. He’s been sleeping there most nights.”
“Most nights?” Tanner frowned. “What do you mean, most?”
“Every other night, he’s there. I don’t know where he’s at the other nights. But that’s the best I can give you.”
“When’s he going to be there next?”
“Tomorrow night,” Lee said. “Unless he shakes up the pattern, but you know Bennigan.”
“Sloppy,” Tanner said.
“Right.” Lee shoved his fingers in his mouth and whistled. Mookie came running over and jumped at my legs then jumped at Tanner’s legs.
Lee swept his dog up into his arms. The dog wrestled then fell into a contented panting.
“I’m not going to lie, I don’t love this,” Tanner said. “Half the time isn’t exactly what I asked for. And this isn’t cheap.”
“I know,” Lee said. “But shit, you should be proud. I found him in the last place anyone would think to look. I mean, the house of his last victim? That’s some dark shit.”
“It’s weird,” Tanner said. “Even I can see that.”
I snorted. “That’s saying something.”
Lee shot me a look. “Say, could you put me in touch with your dad?” he asked. “I have this business opportunity, and I just—”
“Thanks, Lee,” Tanner said, taking my arm. He steered me away. “Another time, then.”
“Bye,” Lee said. “Nice doing business with you!”
He dragged me away, a dark and stormy look in his eyes. The annoying woman glared at us but didn’t say anything as we left. Once we were clear of the gates, he released my arm and cursed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “We can find him now, right?”
“Yeah, we can find him. But I think it’s a trap.”
I stared at him. “How do you think it’s a trap? He doesn’t know you’re looking for him.”
“Bennigan’s sloppy, but he’s still a professional,” Tanner said, walking toward the street. “Sleeping in the same place in the same pattern reeks of a trap to me.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“I just dropped a ton of cash on this info,” he said. “I’m going to use it. I just have to figure out how.”
“Can you trust that guy back there?”
Tanner nodded. “As much as I can trust anyone in this business. Lee’s been pretty straight up in the past. He sets a price and abides by it. Sometimes he tweaks things last minute, but not so bad that it upsets anyone.”
