The apartment is quiet, and I think I’m going to be sick.
Clyde walks to the bar and picks up his phone. “Let me see. It was initials… JT or JD…” My lips part, and my eyes lock with Scout’s. This is it… “Here it is. William Dunne.”
My shoulders drop, and I silently swear.
Scout exhales a chuckle, releasing my arm and turning back to Clyde. “Is it JT or William?”
Clyde looks at him, and his eyes dazzle. I can only thank our lucky stars Scout is such a hot gay porn star. “William was the contact. It was his son, who made the pickup.”
“Poor guy.” Scout leans on the bar. “I’ve got to go, but maybe I’ll drop by again.”
“If I’m not here, leave your number with one of the baristas.” Clyde’s rat face looks suspicious, and I’m afraid he’s onto us.
“I’ll do it.” Scout’s hand is on my arm, and he leads me to the door. He does a finger-gun. “Thanks for being a fan.”
“Thank you for sharing your… endowments.”
Turning to the door, I roll my eyes so hard, I’m surprised they don’t get stuck. We’re out in the hall, and I’m stomping all around pissed. Scout taps his phone, turning off the recording, and grabs my wrist, dragging me down the stairs behind him and out onto the sidewalk.
“Holy shit!” He puts both hands on his forehead and exhales deeply.
“Motherfucker!” I shout, pacing a small circle. “Did we get it? Is that enough to nail his ass? I want his ass nailed!”
He throws an arm around my shoulders and pulls him to me, laughing. “You are something else, you know it? For a minute, I thought I’d have to pull you off that guy.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t have to pull you off him.” I’m still raging.
“Getting that confession was the most important thing. He didn’t exactly say JR’s name or initials, but he said Dad’s name. He said William’s son. We need to talk to a lawyer.”
“Let’s go.” He releases me, and we head to the car.
Hope
“It’s weak.” We’re sitting in front of the computer screen, talking to the Zoom lawyer, and I’m getting more and more frustrated.
“He clearly stated they planted the drugs on JR without his knowledge.” Scout pushes, but the lady shakes her head.
“He doesn’t clearly state it. Also, it could be argued he was bragging to impress you. He can come back and say he made it all up. It’s too vague.”
I’m out of my chair, walking around the living room and shaking my arms. It’s so frustrating to be this close, to know the guy is a guilty, lying piece of shit, and not to be able to use it.
“So what do we do?” Scout won’t give up.
“He needs to clearly say he planted the drugs in your brother’s car without his knowledge. That’s the most important piece. Without that, it won’t hold up.”
“I don’t know if he’ll say more a second time.” Scout looks at me, worried.
“What if Ritchie Deemers confessed?” I lean into the camera.
“How would you convince him to talk?” Zoom lawyer studies her notebook. “The pickup never occurred, so as it stands, he’s not implicated in any of this. If he comes forward, he’ll basically be confessing he’s part of an international drug ring.”
“Can you offer him protection? Make a deal with him or something like a plea bargain?”
The lawyer only laughs. “It’s not that big of a case.”
“I’ll wait a little bit and try going after Clyde again. Thank you. We’ll be back.” Scout hits the end button, and we both sit, staring at the blank screen.
For a minute, neither of us speaks. I look out the glass doors towards the ocean, while Scout stands and walks into the kitchen.
“Well, I didn’t want to have to do this…” He exhales dramatically. “But it’s been a while since I’ve had my dick sucked.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “You’re going to—”
“Maybe I’ll just masturbate in front of him. I do have an appealing cock.”
I cover my eyes with my fingers. “You’d do that?”
He stares at me a beat, his eyes dead serious.
I’m starting to think he might…
Until he starts to laugh. “You are so gullible.”
“Scout!” I scramble to my feet so I can cross the room and hit him on the arm.
“I got you.”
“That… I…” Shaking my head, I can’t deny it. “It seemed a little extreme.”
“A little!” He cries, laughing more. “We’re pretty desperate, but I think we have a few more options before I start prostituting myself.”
Walking to the doors, I look out at the ocean, wondering if we do. From where I’m sitting, it looks like we’re back to beating it out of him.
“That Rammin’ Rod thing really put you on the map.”
“Or took me off it. I couldn’t get an acting job for years. Casting directors wouldn’t even speak to me.”
“Seems so unfair. You couldn’t help it.” He makes a noise, and I pick up the keys off the table. “I’m going to see him. I can’t stand thinking of him sitting alone in that cell all day.”
Scout’s eyebrow arches, and he gives me a little grin. “Okay.”
“You want to come?”
“I’ll see what I can come up with around here. Tell him I said hey.”
Twisting my fingers, I wait for JR to appear through the door. I didn’t really think it through coming here without better news. Still, when he enters the small room, I dismiss all my doubts.
His blue eyes light when they meet mine, and I rush to the glass. His beard is fuller, and his arms extending from his short sleeves seem more defined, like he’s been working out again.
I put my palms against the barrier between us, aching to touch him.
“Hey.” My voice is soft.
He places his palms opposite mine. “Hey.” His voice is low, and when he smiles, I almost cry. “What are you doing here?”
Blinking up at him, I trace my finger along the glass like I would along his skin if I could. “I missed you. I hate thinking of you here all day alone.”
He shrugs. “I’m used to it. How’d it go with Scout and Clyde?” The hint of optimism in his tone aches in my chest. I hate to disappoint him.
“Scout got him on record admitting they put the drugs in your trunk, and you got caught, and they were using you as a mule… It was him who reported you for violating parole.”
His glittering eyes harden. “And?”
I inhale slowly before answering. “The lawyer said it wouldn’t hold up. Clyde said your dad’s name as the initial contact, but he never directly named you as the mule… She said because Scout’s a celebrity, his lawyer could argue he was bragging, making it up to impress us.” I exhale sadly. “She said it’s not enough.”
He looks away, over his shoulder, and I can feel his body tense through the barrier. He turns away, and before my eyes, it’s like a wall goes up between us, more impenetrable than the one currently standing.