Page 401 of Sticks and Stones
Ethan needed his name.
What he wanted to do was get this done for the report. He didn’t trust powerful people. They tended to bend the truth, and the last thing they needed was Julian Mercer calling foul to Gabe.
“I’m Ethan,” he said, shaking his hand, “and this is my partner, Gene Cantrell.”
The youngish man shook his hand.
“I’m Trevor Bainbridge. I work as Julian’s assistant. I run his day for him, and make sure he gets to his meetings.”
Ethan was curious.
“Do you work out of his home with him?” he asked, trying to see if maybe the man saw something.
He was leaving breadcrumbs for Gene to do his questioning.
“Yes, and I live here. I have an apartment over the other garage. Living here is part of my benefits package, so I can be at Julian’s beck and call when he needs me.”
Well, then, he might be able to give them something.
Anything.
Gene went there with the three college students. He had to verify what Julian had said.
Pulling out his phone, he showed the man the pictures of the three deceased victims.
“Did you ever see them here?”
Trevor took his phone and flipped through the pictures one-by-one.
“I’ve seen all three of them here. The first one came by, and Julian had an office meeting with him regarding his grades. The second gentleman was here a lot. I believe his name is Wesley?”
Gene nodded.
“That is correct. Why was he here?” he asked, not sharing anything with the man.
The man was honest.
“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.
