Page 9 of Copper

I tilt my head. “You want me to spy on Murphy?”

“Yes.” He says it deadpan like there was never a question.

“Sure, because that’s safe.” I laugh a little and a drop of snot snorts out of my nose. Aaron ignores it.

“What else? We can’t find any wife, but what do you know?”

“There’s no wife. If there ever was, she was long gone by the time Beck and I got together. He’s more of auses a hooker and doesn’t have to pay for the hookertype. Personally, I’m surprised syphilis hasn’t taken him yet.”

“Hobbies? Things he talks about a lot?” Aaron asks, his fingers dancing over his phone as he takes notes.

“Is being a dickhead a hobby?”

Aaron looks up at me and smiles. I nearly swoon at the boyishness of it. It’s like he smiled at me years ago when he showed up at my house with a posterboard asking me to the sophomore homecoming dance, and I smile back without thinking.

“Actually, I’ve been in this job long enough to say it is, Lucy.”

“He likes cars.”

“Does he deal in cars? Chop shop?”

I shake my head. “Not that I’ve heard. He’s the president of the motorcycle club around here, but that’s common knowledge. I’d be disappointed if you didn’t already know that. I guess he’s just a motorhead and has been since he was a kid. I don’t think he’s into anything illegal there.”

“So, just the drugs and women?”

I nod. “That I know of.”

Aaron leans forward and licks his lips like he does when he’s thinking. He doesn’t know I notice he does that. We could never play poker together. I know when this man has a bad hand at something.

“Is there anything else you can think of that can help me or that I can use to get close to him?”

“He’s really into charity.”

Aaron scrunches his nose. “Charity?”

“Yeah, it’s probably how he flies under the radar. He goes to all the big events and galas around town. He doesn’t give a shit about children, unless he’s selling them, or wetlands. He goes to rub elbows with, well, guys like you. I’m surprised you haven’t seen him around.”

“I don’t go to events unless my campaign says it will be a good idea. Then, I’ll speak, shake a few hands for press pictures, and get the fuck out.”

I cock my head to the side. “Why?”

“People.”

Enough said. He doesn’t have to elaborate.

“Well, Murphy goes to those events. The annual gala for the turtles is coming up. I’m sure he’ll be there greasing palms, smiling, and kissing babies so everyone thinks he’s a great guy.”

“The turtles?”

“Yeah, Aaron. It’s not just sea turtles that need help. Illinois has five indigenous turtles that are endangered. Don’t you read?”

“Not about turtles!” he protests. He’s smiling, though. Fuck me, I got Aaron Dwyer to smile a real smile.

He looks at the floor for a moment and taps his feet. “Come with me.”

“What?”

“If I get a ticket to this gala, you have to come with me. If you’re with me, maybe Murphy will speak to me socially.”

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