Page 37 of Jep

“Downtown.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Chapter 9

When Jep pulledover on a wide, dingy street, Emery thought he was going to check his phone for directions. But then he put the car in park and looked at her.

“This is it?” she said, glancing out the window at the illegal transactions of both drugs and flesh occurring in broad daylight.

“Yeah.”

“Where are we?”

“Maddison Boulevard.”

“I know what street we’re on. I read the sign at the intersection. What I want to know is where we are with regards to the investigation. Maddison Boulevard wasn’t in any of the reports.”

His eyes squinted in skepticism. “You couldn’t possibly know that for sure.”

“I have a good memory.”

“That good?”

She thought back to her encounter with Gardener over her misremembered details. She hadn’t been wrong, but her memory wasn’t what she’d thought it was. “It’s not flawless. Doyou have a contact here or something? And what does it have to do with choosing me as a partner?”

“Tell me what you see.”

She stared at him for a second. When he didn’t say more, she said, “I don’t understand.”

“Look out the window.” He pointed across the road. “And tell me what you see.”

“Is this a test?”

“If that’s what it takes to get your cooperation.”

“What if I fail?”

“It’s not that kind of test.”

She took her time doing what he asked. He’d given her no hint about what she was supposed to be looking for. “I can see a couple of drug deals going on. Prostitutes. Homelessness.”

“What else?”

“I don’t know—an abandoned building. Overflowing garbage can. There’s a twenty-four-hour convenience store that looks like it’s seen better days. A sign says the corn chips are on sale, but judging but the faded coloring, it’s a sign that’s no longer relevant.”

“What else?”

“You want more?”

“You haven’t seen everything there is to see.”

“I’m not trained in the field. You want a crime being committed? I already mentioned the drugs.”

“That’s not what I’m after.”

“I don’t know how to spot what it is you’re looking for. I’m an analyst.”

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