Page 105 of Trigger

“What about the bouncer who threw you out?” I said, suppressingthe need to strangle him.

He shrugged. “Just like you said, he threw us out. But he didn’tkill her either, if that’s what you’re thinking. He’s incapable of killing hisown shadow. He’s just a homophobic bully.”

“Do you have an alibi for September 8th, between 2 and 4 a.m.?”Carter asked him.

“I was at home, sleeping in my bed, alone,” Luz replied. “And youknow I didn’t kill anyone, so stop threatening me because I’m scared enough asit is.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause there’s a guy out there killing people, and he’s not awell-adjusted human being. Sure, he’s killing women, but he might change hismind. He might start killing pretty, blond gays like me.”

Carter chuckled, and for some reason, it made me angry.

“Would you mind giving us your full name, Luz?”

“Not to you, handsome. My name is Lucius Zablonsky. Hence, Luz.”

I reached into my pocket and gave him my card. “If you rememberanything else, call this number. Anything at all.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Luz said with a sigh, shoving the card into hispocket. “So, Detective Big and Detective Bigger.”

He smirked at his own joke, sizing us up. “What’s the story withyou two? Are you really the best SPD has to offer? Or are you just thehandsomest of the bunch? This goes especially for you, pretty boy.”

When he looked at Carter, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, pal. He’s straight.”

“Perhaps,” Luz said, shifting his gaze to me. “But you aren’t.”

I cocked my eyebrows. “Are you for real?”

“Too good to be true, actually,” Luz replied, licking his lipssensually. “And I’ll tell you something else, big guy. I like them big. Andyou’re the biggest I have ever seen. So how about we go to that toilet overthere, and you show me if your gun is as big as the rest of you?”

The sound of a gun cocking made me reach for my own piece when Ispotted a gun in Carter’s hand pointed at Luz.

“Whoa!” Luz said, raising his hands in surrender. “What the fuck?”

“How about this gun?” Carter asked him, unblinking. “Is this gunbig enough for you?”

“Calm down, partner,” I said, ignoring the startled looks comingour way. “Can’t you see the little shit is doing it on purpose?”

“Have I made myself clear?” Carter said, still staring at Luz.

“Crystal,” Luz mumbled, pale in the face.

I touched Carter’s hand, making him look at me.

“Partner? Are you still with me?”

Damn, but those jungle greens were filled with rage.

I looked at Luz and pointed my chin at the exit, hopefully communicatingto him that he should get the hell out of here. He stood up when somethingflickered in his eyes, and I knew it was trouble because he was a troublemaker.

“And now I know which way you swing, pretty boy,” he said, movingswiftly before Carter could catch him.

“Enough,” I growled, pushing Carter back into his seat. “Don’t lethim rile you up.”

Carter slapped my hands away and tucked his gun into the holster.

---