Page 76 of Trigger

Still,it was enough for me to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“Okay,so what’s the plan?” I said with a sigh. “We walk into Nirvana and ask around fora guy with blue hair, or...? Not that guys with dyed hair are rare these days.Our chances are slim.”

“Yeah,but we’re looking for a provocative guy who likes attention. Maybe he helps usout on his own.”

Asexpected, the club was crowded and filled with rowdy people, mostly same-sexcouples. The dance floor was packed, smelling like perfume and sweat. I couldeven distinguish the aroma of cannabis coming from a distance.

“Lowprofile, okay?” I murmured, looking around.

Cartersmirked. “With the size of you, I wouldn’t bet on it. By the way, the owner ofthis building is Bryce ‘The Bomber’ Krakowski. I arrested his brother formultiple homicides, and now he’s serving a life sentence in Grangetown.”

“Yourpoint being?”

“TheBomber is the one who crashed my car. If he sees me, he will shoot. If you spota guy built like a bull with dreadlocks and yellow contacts, make sure your gunis close.”

“That’sjust great, Carter. Is there anyone who likes you in this town?”

“Yeah.You.”

“Notlately,” I said, stepping toward the guy on the roller skates passing by us.“Excuse me, have you seen a man with blue hair here tonight?”

“Areyou sure you don’t prefer blondes?” The guy said, wrapping his finger aroundthe strand of his long, blond hair. “I love your accent, by the way. Are youFrench?”

“Haveyou seen this man or not?” Carter snapped.

“I havenot, handsome. Do you prefer blondes by any chance? I have a feeling that youdo.”

“Areyou going to arrest him, or should I?” Carter said, rubbing his forehead.

Igrabbed him by the arm and pulled him after me. “We don’t have time for that. Isaw someone with blue hair in that corner over there.”

“I’llbe the one doing the talking.”

“No,you won’t, partner.”

“Whynot? And why are you so cranky tonight?”

“Becauseyou annoy me.”

“Why?”

“BecauseI want to…”

Hugyou. Kiss you. Fuck your ass. Cuddle.

“Getsome rest when this damn day ends,” I said instead. “I almost got knifed today.Some asshole punched me in the face. The chief yelled at me. And—”

“Oh,shit.”

“Oh,shit, what?”

Cartermade a face. “The Bomber just came inside. Fuck. We should—”

“Run?”I said, reaching for my gun. “If he shoots here, people are going to die.”

“No,let’s just…”

Ilooked around at the couples groping each other, contemplating something.

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