Page 103 of Home With You

"Oh, I texted Zoe," I say as we walk. "She said Gladys is getting better but she's not bringing her here tomorrow because she wants her to rest. She asked me to tell you."

"Maybe I could call her tomorrow if you don't mind me using your phone."

"It's yours whenever you want it. Actually, I was thinking maybe I could buy you one."

"Don't. They're too expensive and I don't need one."

"I'd feel better if you had one, even if you only use it for emergencies."

"I don't need it. I've gone this long without one. I can go another six months or however long it takes to get a job."

"Speaking of that, how was the job search?"

She sighs. "Not good."

"Why? What happened?"

"I'll tell you while we're eating."

We place our orders at the taco truck, then take our food to the park, sitting down at a picnic table.

"So what happened?" I ask.

"I went in some fast food places and filled out some applications. But when they saw I didn't have an address or phone number, they told me they couldn't hire me. Apparently you can't be homeless and get a job."

"Use my address. And my phone number."

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not mine. If I got hired and we were no longer friends, you'd get all my checks."

"If that happens, I'll bring them to you. I promise."

"It's not going to work. I don't want to use a fake address."

"It's not fake. And if it's the only way you'll get a job, then do it."

"Let me think about it."

We finish our meal, and despite me practically begging her to spend more time with me, she insists on going back to the tent. I return to my apartment and fire up my laptop. I'm really behind at the office but I have no desire to do the work. All my clients are rich assholes being sued by people they screwed over, but because they have money and can hire the best lawyers, they'll win their cases. I know it's my job but helping them win seems wrong, which is why I keep putting off doing the work.

Clicking on a file, I start reading through client documents but it's so boring I can't stay focused. My mind keeps going to Raine, which leads me to think of her ex and reminds me I have his last name. I open a browser window and type his full name in the search bar. The results pop up and I see listings for a guy that seems to fit the description of Raine's ex. He's in his thirties. Single. Has lived in several different cities in Colorado. He doesn't have much for an online profile. No social media links. No website. All I can find is basic information like where he's lived and his age. I'm sure that's intentional. He's trying to hide in case someone comes after him. An addict. One of his workers. The close friend of an ex-girlfriend he tried to kill.

If I could, I'd show up at the guy's house and put him in the hospital like he did to Raine, but I can't do that. I need to figure out something else. If I could catch him selling drugs there's a good chance I could put him behind bars for a very long time but I have no idea how to get the evidence to prove it. He's protected himself with his team of sales guys who I'm sure are loyal to him. Raine said Jacob, the guy who sold her pills, refused to give up his dealer's name when he was arrested.

Searching farther down on the page, I see Rob's name listed at an event in Houston. It's a fundraiser for high school athletes. The website lists him as attending but doesn't say anything more. The next search result has a photo of him with his arm around a high school kid in a football uniform. Under the photo is a short article that says Rob was at the high school to talk to student athletes about injuries caused by high school sports. It goes on to say Rob played football at college but had to quit following a serious injury his junior year.

Is that how he started selling drugs? He needed pain meds and got hooked up with a dealer and then started dealing himself? Why is he talking to high school kids? It seems like he wouldn't want that much exposure. Unless he's doing it to get new customers.

Shit, I bet that's it. I bet he's going to schools trying to get young athletes hooked on pain meds. It's only a theory but it makes sense. Rob could be targeting high school athletes who were injured. He offers them pain relief with his pills so they can play again. Soon they're hooked and can't get off them. More customers for Rob.

He could be doing this on college campuses too. Raine said that guy, Jacob, hung out at the mall to find his future customers. The mall is full of young people. He was targeting teens and young adults, just like Rob is doing at this high school in Houston. Raine said he traveled a lot. Maybe he was traveling to schools, connecting with athletes, in order to grow his business.

I want to ask Raine if she has more evidence that would support my theory but then she'll know I was looking him up and she'll get angry and tell me to stop.

Closing the browser window, I focus on my legal work. After two hours, I shut it down and go to bed, but can't sleep knowing Raine is alone in the alley. The coffee shop is closed now and all the employees have left. Raine is by herself in a dark deserted alley with no cellphone to call for help.

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