Page 12 of Stabby Little

Roy pulls his baseball cap over his eyes. “What do you need?”

That's the one thing I respect about Roy. He doesn't pull punches or beat around the bush.

“Information.”

Reaching into my back pocket, I tug out the business card Gordon gave me. The name Xavier Sanchez is scrawled on the flimsy stock.

Roy nods. “Tell me.”

I hand him the card. “I'm looking for this man.”

“There are a lot of Xavier Sanchez's in this city. I need something more specific.”

“He's a sex trafficker. He worked for my former bosses and they need him to do another job.”

Roy furrows his brow. “What kind of job?”

“I can't tell you.”

“I don't touch sex trafficking.” Roy raises his hands so I see the whites of his palms. “Shit's too dangerous. One wrong move and they'll send you away for life.”

“I'm not asking you to get involved.” I keep my voice low. “I just need to know where I can find Xavier Sanchez.”

“Who are your bosses?”

“You know I can't tell you.”

“I can't give you this information without knowing who you work for.” Roy's eyes turn to slits. “This puts me in a bad fucking position.”

“I'll make it worth your while.”

Tugging out my wallet, I remove five hundred dollars and slide it to Roy. I place the hundred-dollar bills in his right palm, then close his fist around them.

“I need a location.” I stare into his eyes. “Home. Work. Anything.”

Roy pockets the cash. “If you get involved in some dark shit, I'm not saving you.”

“I didn't ask you to save me.” I step forward. “This is all I need. I can handle the rest.”

Roy motions for me to follow him toward the riverbank. We slip down a trail and stand underneath a tree.

Wind thrusts my hair back and mutes our voices.

“Lift your shirt.”

I do it. “I'm clean.”

Roy looks at my bare chest and nods in approval. When he sees I'm not wearing a wire, he motions for me to give him a pen.

“The bar's called Rock.” He scribbles the name on the back of the card.

I furrow my brow. “Rock?”

“It's a seedy bar in the Bronx.” Roy hands me the card. “It's a hotspot for human trafficking. The feds busted the other spots in town but they haven't touched this one yet.”

I nod. “And Xavier will be there?”

“I don't know, man.” Roy gnashes his teeth. “I'm just giving you information. I've never heard of Xavier Sanchez in my life. But it's a cartel hangout.”

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