Page 90 of Sticks and Stones (FBI Romance/Thriller #65)

“He and Mr. Mercer had meetings about his grades, but mostly, Wesley came by for dinner and some fun.”

Gene lifted his eyebrow.

“Fun?”

Trevor nodded.

“Julian has a bowling alley, and a game room. I believe Wesley was enamored by Julian’s toys. They spent a lot of time in there playing video games. Or the theater,” he stated.

Why did that sound like he was grooming a kid, or trying to lure him in? Kids, especially ones from the bad side of town, would be drawn to things like that.

Yeah, that was sketchy.

“Did they have a thing?” Gene asked.

He actually laughed.

“Julian has a thing with lots of people. He particularly likes younger men. I believe he likes them because they can keep up with him, and also like to have fun. Julian has a tough job, as CEO, so he likes to kick back and relax. Unfortunately, I suck at bowling, and can only entertain him so much.”

Gene went to speak, but Ethan went there.

“Do you have a sexual relationship with Julian?” he asked.

The man didn’t smile, but he did answer.

“But of course. I was once a student who received scholarships. Julian and I were close then, and when I graduated, he helped me by giving me this job. I’ve been with him for four years now. If not for Julian, who knows where I would be? He’s big into helping those less fortunate.”

Gene had many a comment to make about how he was helping himself to plenty of men. He was predatory, and that was the bottom line.

But he played nice.

“What about the last picture of the young man?”

Trevor handed his phone back to him.

“He was always here. Julian was teaching him the ropes of navigating government. His businesses deal with the government a lot, and Graham wanted to get an internship. Julian helped him.”

Ethan had to ask.

“And in return?” he asked.

The man looked confused.

“What do you mean? In return, they were friends,” he stated.

Uh-huh.

“He was sleeping with him too. That’s more than friends,” Blackhawk admitted.

Trevor laughed.

“Well, boys will be boys,” he said. “Julian is a free spirit. He likes to meet lots of people, and he enjoys those meetings. Why are you so interested?”

Gene told him.

“Those three students were found dead. They were abducted, drugged, sexually assaulted, and then sold to someone buying people. They were sex trafficked. Do you think your boss is capable of that?”

Trevor contemplated it.

“I’m sorry about their deaths. That’s a shame. As for if my boss could pull that off…”

They waited.

“Gentlemen, if Julian was going to do what you just suggested, I assure you that there would be some evidence that was left behind, correct?” he asked.

Oh, that was ballsy.

Or was Trevor pointing them in the direction?

Ethan pushed.

“So he could do it?”

Trevor shrugged.

“I’m sure logistically he could, but then I’d know about it. Julian doesn’t drive, and I’d have to take him to do the nefarious things you’ve brought up. He’d have to take a limo, and the driver would know. That would leave a trail, and I assure you, my boss is very careful.”

They stared at him.

Now, Gene knew he’d been right.

They had been watched. Trevor wasn’t there for that much of their questioning. He was betting there was security inside.

Someone liked to watch, and he was betting that someone was Julian.

Trevor continued.

“Julian is an open book. If you asked him, I’m sure he told you.”

He had.

“Now, anything else?”

Gene was curious.

“You said you’d have to drive him. What do you drive?” he asked, trying to tie that one detail from the bikers to anyone they could.

He pointed.

“Whatever car he feels like me driving him in. That would be dependent on his mood.”

The man was evading.

Gene could feel it.

“Does he have a white Benz?” he asked.

Trevor thought about it.

“Hmmmm, you know, I don’t know if he does or not,” he finally said.

Well, shit.

Gene felt like he was being cock blocked from the truth by a bunch of dicks.

When he saw Gene go red, Ethan put his hand on Gene’s arm. He was getting frustrated.

Anyone could see that.

“Thank you, Trevor. Can we get the business card, and we’ll get out of your hair.”

The man nodded.

When they headed out, they found Julian in the kitchen with the chef. He was sitting on the counter, talking to the man.

“Leaving so soon?” he asked. “Are you sure you’d not like to stay?”

Oh.

Hell.

No.

This place was weird. The last thing Gene wanted to do was stay here.

It was time to roll.

“We appreciate that, but we’re going to be going,” Gene said. The further from here the better. This place rubbed him the wrong way.

Julian opened his mouth when the chef fed him a spoonful of something.

“Henry, that’s delicious,” he said, and then focused on the men.

He was still smiling like he knew something they didn’t know.

Yep.

Gene hated this city.

“Have a safe drive, Agents. The weather is getting worse,” he offered.

When Trevor reappeared with a card, Gene took it, and they were escorted to the door.

Once outside, Gene walked back to their car, and when he sat, he sighed.

“That’s creepy.”

Oh, Julian Mercer was something, all right. He knew one thing, and Gene wasn’t going to like it.

Not.

At.

All.

“It won’t be him,” he said. “He’d never do the dirty work. He’s entitled, and he thinks he’s God’s gift to humanity. He hands out just enough money to appease his guilt of owning a military contractor company. He takes lives, and hands out alms to the poor.”

Gene listened.

“He would NEVER sit in a car with a body in the back. He’s too slick for that. He’d come right out and say he was doing it, and then use lawyers to circumnavigate the law. He’s a sociopath.”

He lifted his brow.

“Jesus. That sounds bad. We’ve not run into one of those before.”

Ethan was honest.

“He had a good time studying us. This won’t be the last time we cross paths,” he offered. “He’ll be fascinated with us.”

Well, shit.

“Are we in danger?” Gene asked, not needing another Javier situation.

Ethan shook his head.

“No, he’s more fascinated with playing games. His thing would be interjecting himself into a case so he could study us. We’re going to fascinate him.”

That was worse.

Ethan continued.

“I’m going to bet that he grew up in a household with his father being domineering, and abusive. His sister will be the more powerful Mercer. She’ll run it all.”

Well, since the killer wasn’t likely a woman, that took her off of the list.

A list she was never on.

“Why can’t this city ever be normal?” Gene asked. “You know…normal drugs. Crack, speed, Molly? Why can’t we have a dead hooker? I remember when we chased hooker hackers. Now, I’m up to my eyeballs in rich weirdos who can’t keep their goddamn hands to themselves.”

He laughed.

“I mean, we’re not in danger. You told him we’re straight, and as long as he believes that, he won’t tread there.

His ego matters too much to risk being turned down.

He’s too self-absorbed. There’s that. He lacks real empathy, and his needs will always come first—thus why he’s fucking everyone he can. He’s the poster child for APD.”

Gene lifted a brow.

“What’s that?”

Ethan shared.

“That’s Antisocial Personality Disorder. Let’s just hope that he keeps fucking people and stays out of our path. That’s the last rodeo we want to go to. They make all the other killers look like fun.”

Gene sighed.

This damn city was a pain in his ass.

BIG.

TIME.

* * * Blackhawk & Cantrell * * *

The Commissioner’s Office

One Twenty P.M.

When Gene parked at city hall, they noticed that the parking lot was relatively empty. There was one vehicle there, and it was in the spot labeled ‘Commissioner’ .

That made sense.

It appeared the man was now there. All Gene could hope was that he was irritated that they hadn’t gotten there yet.

As they went to pass it, Ethan checked it out.

“A silver Benz. Someone’s paying the man a lot of money to annoy the fuck out of us,” Blackhawk said.

Gene laughed.

“Yeah, I know. Aren’t we the lucky ones?” he asked, sarcastically.

Once inside the building, they showed their badges to the guard at the desk, and he directed them to the elevator at the back of the hall.

“I hope he doesn’t bust balls,” Gene said. “I have enough problems now, and telling that jackhole off might make me giddy.”

Blackhawk snorted.

Oh, he knew his man.

He was absolutely telling this man off before the meeting was done. Gene didn’t like idiots who wasted their time.

They were out of suspects, and they needed to get something, soon.

It was technically day two, and they only had Cash Masters left.

Once he was off the list…

They were screwed.

“How much are you going to share?” Ethan asked, as they rode the elevator up.

Gene was to the point.

“As little as possible. I don’t like being trapped in a bureaucratic circle jerk,” he admitted. “I’m only showing up here because Gabe told me I had to. If it was up to me, I’d piss on his car and head back out.”

Ethan shook his head.

“We’ll get something. Be patient.”

Gene was trying, but he was not enjoying how this felt like they were being jerked around by this killer. Someone was smart, and covering his tracks.

That pissed him off.

Once at the office, they headed in. There was a man behind a desk, and they recognized him.

It was the commissioner’s aid. This was the guy that got up in their business for their watchdog boss the last case they’d worked when they were dealing with Javier Hughes.

Gene sighed.

“Hey, Landry. We’re here to see your boss,” he said, crossing his arms on his chest.

The man looked at his watch.

“The commissioner has been waiting for you. He got here almost an hour ago. You’re late.”

Someone’s eye was twitching.

Gene’s.

“Well, I’m sorry that he had to leave the comfort of his home to deal with us,” Gene offered. “But we have interviews, and this is more or less an inconvenience. Tell him we’re here.”

The man scoffed.

“He said he will be with you. He had a phone call that’s important.”

Gene rolled his eyes.