Like when you were ogling topless women at a titty club?
“I thought you couldn’t stay long,” he said when she opened a menu.
“I’m famished. Plus, a few Buffalo wings won’t spoil the soup-n-sandwich experience with my dad.”
He laughed as a waitress showed up to take their order. “Be right back with that pitcher of beer.”
“You must be relieved you’re no longer at the center of a sex scandal.” An attractive woman walked by and Joey glanced at her backside.
No way was she letting him take control of the conversation. “I’m moving on from that. Speaking of moving…what are your plans now that the holidays are over?”
“Nothing firm yet, so I’ve been offering my counseling services at a few homeless shelters.”
Sure you have.“Oh, yeah? I’ve done some local volunteering. Which ones?”
“What’s your situation with Sinclair Develin?” Joey asked.
What the hell?She leaned against the back of the wooden booth and he glanced at her breasts, though they were well hidden behind her shirt. “Tell me which shelters. Maybe we know the same people.”
“I’m terrible with names.” He leaned in. “So, this Develin guy, what’s his story?”
Their tug-of-war for control continued. “Want an introduction?”
His eyes went flat. “No. I wasn’t sure if you two were…you know…seeing each other. Every time you talk to the press, he’s your mouthpiece.”
The server set down the plastic pitcher and two set-ups. “Wings and nachos will be out shortly.”
Evangeline poured their beers and drank down a swig. “Let’s not talk about him. Tell me about you. What drew you to the Lord?”
“I felt a calling to save a few sinners from eternal damnation.”
My gut tells me, you might want to start with yourself.
* * *
Dressed in all black, Sin covered his face with a black ski mask and exited the back seat of the town car. He kept his head down as he cut between the houses on Texas Avenue in southeast D.C.
Evangeline’s concern for her sister had reached an all-time high, so while she was keeping Joey occupied, he would search Joey’s rental house for evidence either corroborating or discrediting his story. Though concerned about surveillance cameras, he figured he’d be long gone before any cops arrived.
After picking the lock, he opened the back door, and stepped inside. The place reeked of cigarettes. Pausing, he let his eyes adjust to the darkness. The kitchen counter was cluttered with dirty dishes. Empty beer bottles and an ashtray crowded the small table.
He snatched a cigarette butt and dropped it into one of the plastic baggies he’d brought, then turned on his phone’s flashlight and rifled through drawers in search of anything that would shed light on who Joey was and what he was up to. Finding nothing, he moved into the living room. No papers, no laptop…nothing. He continued up the stairs.
The first bedroom sat unused. As he entered the master bedroom, he spied something on the unmade bed. Strewn at the foot appeared to be numerous photographs of various sizes. Two long strides and he shone the light on the pictures.
No fucking way.
There were over a dozen photos of Evangeline taken at different locations. Sitting with her sister at a coffee shop. Facing the press with Sin. Leaving the Justice building. A few of her in her car. But the one that stood out was the close-up of Sin and Evangeline on the sidewalk outside his nightclub, a blanket draped over her shoulders.
That was the night of the fire.
Rage rocketed through him. His instinct told him to get the fuck out of there and head to Mac’s. Evangeline wasn’t safe with this man, though Sin had no idea who he was up against. But he forced himself to stay in control. He needed to gather as much evidence as he could.
After snapping pictures of the photos, he headed into the closet. There he found a few pairs of pants, several shirts, and a jacket. He searched the pockets, but they were empty.
In the bathroom, he eyed the worn toothbrush. He couldn’t take that, but he could remove strands from the hairbrush. He pulled a second baggie from his pocket and shoved the hairs inside.
He exited out the back door, returned to the town car, and slid inside the back. As Anton drove out of the neighborhood, Sin yanked off the gloves and ski mask. Once they were out of the neighborhood, Anton pulled over to remove the license plate deflectors. The two men rode in silence to Mac’s.
