Page 31 of Switch
Perhaps not as straight as I initially assumed, Bren.Think I’ll keep that to myself, though.If he knows about the deaths I’m connected to and about my mom, he’s already got way too much on me.
As I start the car and pull out, Brennan eases back in his seat.“So you think I had something to do with your foster brother’s disappearance, is that what we’re getting at here?”
“He had your name and number.He said he was tired of working two jobs and that you had promised him a lot of money.A few days later, he left our apartment and didn’t come back.”
“Wish I could help you, but I don’t have a clue what happened to him.Whatever else you think of me, I’ve got no reason to lie on that front.He did talk to me about a job.I gave him the same information I gave you when we met, and he left.Make a left at the stop sign up here.”
Even though I still think I’m probably chauffeuring my pimp to my murder spot, I do as I’m told.Part of me is still hoping I might glean some information from this little field trip.
“You didn’t think there was something off about the fact that he agreed to work for you and didn’t return?”
“Fuck no.You know how many guys show up in my office looking to make money, only to get cold feet?There’s a difference between the dollar signs that flash in their eyes when I tell them how much they could make and the reality of what it takes to earn that money.”
My body sags.Brennan could be lying, but he’s making an infuriating amount of sense.
We pass the East End Mission and cross the train tracks that cut the east side of Belle Argo in half.I don’t go this way.The tracks sort of divide the parts of Belle Argo that have seen better days from the parts that have been entirely forgotten.I’m not even sure the cops come to this part of town.
Brennan gestures to the entrance of North Fork Park.“Back in the day, this was a nature preserve.I guess technically it still is.Good place to see fireflies if you don’t mind wading through the homeless camp and the discarded needles.”
“Are you suggesting I look for Evans in there?”
“If you do, wear sturdy shoes and get a tetanus shot first.What I also know about this place is that a group of intrepid volunteers goes in once a week to distribute food and first aid supplies.Over the last year, they’ve reported six cases of longtime residents going missing, including two teenagers.Police aren’t looking, figuring these folks either OD’d or wandered off.”
“They said the same to me about Evans.But also, it’s kind of a transient population around here.It’s a plausible theory.”
“Definite possibility.”He gestures with his gun again.“Head toward Lake Belle.”
In many parts of Florida, waterfront property is a hot commodity.Lake Belle, however, is not.A handful of houses, either abandoned or at least looking that way, dot the surrounding road.Farther along, there’s a strip club, a trailer park, and a junkyard.
Brennan points to one of the run-down houses.“Minnie Givens’s granddaughter goes to East End Magnate.One Friday, she had a late rehearsal forFiddler on the Roofand never came home.She was a senior, just turned eighteen.Police told Minnie the girl probably ran off with a boy, but Minnie says Claire helped take care of her and wouldn’t leave without notice.”
The house exterior is warped and peeling, with bars on the windows.Water damage reveals the times the lake has risen too high.There’s an old Plymouth parked alongside the house, but it’s covered in greenish mold and the tires are flat.Nobody here is likely to be hassling the police if they don’t find Claire, especially if Minnie doesn’t even drive.
Jesus, I never realized how much this side of town is basically a fucking graveyard.Everything’s slowly being reclaimed by the elements.
“That’s fucked up, but?—”
“Four girls have gone missing from the club over here.The bouncers started walking the dancers to their cars at night.I’m sure you can guess the story with the police.”Brennan points to the mostly black building with SILVER FOX in neon lights over the door.
Yeah.I can.“Why are you telling me all this?How do you even know?”
“Belle Argo’s my town, Peej.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Payback for calling me Bren.Look, I grew up around here.I keep my ear to the ground.There’s some weird shit going on.Those rich kids in the news who have been disappearing?What I’m getting at is they’re not the only ones.Their stories sell more papers, that’s all.Local journalism’s a dying art, you know.Then there’s the drug shit I warned you guys about.Some new player is spreading poison all over town.I suspect they’re trying to take over my territory.Haven’t figured out who yet, but I will.”
“And so you’re, what, going to shut them down?”
Brennan’s grin is anything but friendly.“That’s the plan.”
I take another look at Evans’s picture.We were both so happy and carefree that night.Now, I can barely remember what carefree means.
“You’re suggesting whoever’s responsible for these other people could be responsible for Evans.”
“You’re finally getting it, Encyclopedia Brown.”
“Who the fuck are these people you keep calling me?”
