Page 44 of Forbidden Want

“Yeah, but you’ve just admitted you don’t pay attention. I need someone who did. Any suggestions?”

“Most guys I knew in the old days are dead or in jail…” Epiphany hit his expression. “Jail…”

“What?”

“You know what happened around that time?”

“What?” she asked, understanding his earlier impatient infuriation. “Tell me.”

“Hell Manzani went down for murder.”

“Helios?” she asked. “Evander’s big brother? He’s been in for… twenty years or something.” Strat’s eyes met hers. She gasped and grabbed the arms of the chair to bounce her ass to the edge again. “Twenty years! Dorsey’s been missing for twenty years!”

A light bulb moment lit her friend’s eyes. “I can’t tell you if the two are related, but there’s only one person anyone goes to in this city if they’ve lost something.”

“Someone who? You think maybe Clancy went to him about Dorsey?”

“Nah,” he said, “this guy’s a kid, thirty-something max. He wouldn’t have been around back then. But if you want to track down Clancy, he’d do it. He’d be the only one capable. The only sane one capable anyway.”

“Sane?”

“Anyone ever mentions the Huntsmen, turn and run, if you value your life, or anyone else’s,” Strat said. “They’re insane and you need sane.” Yeah, because there was enough insanity in her life already. “Guy called Quest is your best bet.”

Subtle. Was that his actual name or a nickname? Knowing the city, it was probably the latter.

“How does he work?” she asked.

“I don’t know how he does what he does, just that he’s known for his perfect record.”

“He always succeeds?”

“If you believe word on the street.”

Which meant it was a hundred percent true or a hundred percent bullshit, no in between.

“Couldn’t hurt to talk to him,” she said, standing up. “Where can I find him?”

“Nowhere at this time,” he said, eyeing her while eating.

“It’s not that late.”

“Your security team sure? You might not want to rock up to his place with them. Showing up with heavies puts people on guard.”

“You’re my security team,” she said. “You didn’t care I was unprotected all day.”

All things considered, the day had been uneventful. Any day that didn’t include a visit from Evander was a good one in her book.

His brow descended as he put the food box aside. “I got a text I wasn’t needed, figured Ire stepped up your security after his showdown with Vex. You know, got you the best.”

She shook her head. “I woke up alone and there was no one outside.” No one inside blocking her exit either, which Connel was capable of if he wanted her to stay put. “Last night, Connel denied all knowledge of what happened to Evander.”

“And you believe him?”

“No, of course not, but it’s protection. He’s protecting me.” So she wasn’t forced into an awkward position with her father. Something she may have said was impossible before their staircase meeting. “I guess whatever happened, he’s confident Evander got the message.”

“Ire might be confident, but you know better,” he said. “One skirmish won’t get it through Vex’s thick skull. You can’t think otherwise after seven years.” He was right. “Take tonight off, Scamp. I’ll track down the tracker for you tomorrow.”

“I have to write tomorrow. Update my timeline.” Though she’d have to find it first. “I need to order my thoughts and list my unanswered questions. You think Conn will let me interview him?”

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