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“He was a cruel, often drunk son of a bitch. And dead. He’s dead.”
She gave him a sympathetic look, then tapped the keys. “Hmm, Master Sergeant Gage Moore. Served as a Marine for eight years right out of high school. Military police, embassy guard, and dog handler. Impressive record. Decorated with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Commendation Medal.”
Dean pulled into the parking lot for the garage and the two of them got out of the vehicle. At the sounds of glass being smashed, he stiffened. Someone shouted, and Dean reacted on instinct. He headed for the noise and saw the office door wide open. He entered and several men were kicking a downed man.
“Hey!” Dean shouted and immediately pulled off one guy who swung at him. Dean ducked, then delivered a right hook that sent the guy crashing toward Jessica. She shoved him away from her, and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then sprinted out the door. The other guy gave up, backed away, then swiftly followed his friend.
Dean crouched down and the man groaned. “Punks!”
“Are you okay? Do you need medical assistance? I can call the police.” Jessica pulled out her cellphone.
Dean helped the older man to his feet, and the guy raised his hand. “Don’t bother,” he said. “It’s not going to do any good.”
Dean assisted him to the office chair. Jessica had already found the first aid kit and was opening it.
“Does this happen often?” Dean asked.
“Only when there’s a customer dispute.” He held out his hand as Jessica cleaned the small cut on his temple. “Avedis Belsky, owner. Even though it won’t be for long.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m being forced out of business, but that’s not your concern. What can I do for you?”
“We’re looking for one of your employees, Gage Moore.”
“I’d ask if you were the police, but since you offered to call them, I’d say you’re not. What do you want with Gage?”
“Information.”
Avedis eyed them. “All right. You did save me from a beating.” He pointed with his thumb toward the rear of the office. “He’s in the back. Had a rough night and is sleeping it off. Just knock.”
They moved toward the back, down a set of stairs, and through an empty corridor. The door at the end was closed. Dean knocked loudly and waited. There was no sound from within. He knocked again, but there was still no movement. He was about to pound the wood with his fist, but the door jerked open, and they were face-to-face with Gage Moore.
No shirt, unbuttoned jeans loose around his hips. Behind him, Jessica gasped softly.
Dean could guess why. The guy was ripped. And he looked just like James Dean with his chiseled jaw and blue eyes except his hair was black, threaded through with silver. He had that dark, dangerous rebel without a cause look, his jaw rigid and unshaven, his eyes narrowed in a steely eyed squint. On the surface he looked hard as nails and almost threatening, but Dean, being a vet, knew what the emotionless expression in his eyes was hiding. It was clear he’d been binge drinking.
“What the fuck do you want?” A German shepherd edged the door open just enough to get his head and shoulder out. His attentive expression wasn’t lost on Dean.
“We need to talk to you.”
His eyes flicked to Jessica and stayed on her, giving her a slow once over slide. “About what, lady?”
“Guns on the streets.”
He stared at her for an instant, then started to close the door, but she brushed past Dean and placed her hand against it, holding it open.
His eyes flashed. “What would you know about guns, Harvard?”
“Plenty.”
He scoffed.
“I think a decorated Marine would want to help us any way he could, especially since these are military grade weapons.”
The muscles in his jaw tensed, and for an instant, Dean thought he was going to shove the door shut anyway, but then he dropped his hand and turned away.
Gage went over to a cot beneath a window overlooking the street and grabbed up a wrinkled gray T-shirt, pulling it on. His shoulders stiff, he turned back to them and leaned against the wall, his hip cocked. “I don’t know anything about guns, but my roommate, Logan Carter, may. He has more ties to the street around here than I do.”
