10

Lazarus Holloway sat inside a bar at the Black Diamond on the other side from where he had interviewed Misty. He sipped coffee while he waited for the evening shift change.

Misty cleaned up her section of the counter and went into the back before coming out with a handbag. Lazarus rose to follow her. He stayed tucked behind a crowd of Japanese tourists and followed them past the fountain, where Misty took a phone call.

The air outside had a metallic taste from the exhaust of the glittering cars lining the Strip. Drag night, when they could get away with it, which with neighborhood CCTV cameras on the corners and drones in the air wasn’t as likely anymore.

Misty went to the silver Ford truck in employee parking, and Lazarus came up to her as she was taking out her keys. She turned off her alarm and opened the door just as he put his hand on it and shut it. It startled her, and she gasped.

“That was some nice bullshit you fed us earlier. Not remembering his name and just giving us J. J.”

She tried to open the door, and he held it closed.

“Smart girl like you who pays the security guard to protect her, no way you don’t know more about him. I would guess he even took an STD test before you saw him. That’s because you’re not a real walker, you’re a bored housewife. Real walkers don’t have a choice in who they take.”

“What do you want from me?”

He kept his hand on the door. “Why don’t you wanna give me his name?”

“You know what would happen to my business if they knew I gave up their info to the cops? These tricks are all part of their forums and whatever. They all talk. I would have zero. Nothing. No one would see me.”

“That sounds like a you problem. I want to talk about my problem. My problem is I got dead bodies, and the man you took up to your room is who I need to speak to about it.”

“He got a little rough. That’s it. Tricks do that all the time. All the things they can’t do with their wives they want to do with me. It ain’t nothin’. And I haven’t heard from him since.”

“If this man is who I’m looking for, he might see you as a loose end, and men like him, they tend to tie up loose ends.”

She took a step back now and leaned toward one hip. “What do I get out of it if I tell you?”

“You’ll get busted one day and need someone to ask for. Ask for me.”

“Why?”

“You take care of me, I take care of you. That’s how it works. Talk to Josh. He’ll tell you I always keep my word.”

She folded her arms and thought a moment. “Jayden Camden.”

“He a regular?”

“I seen him a few times.”

“You know where he works?”

She shook her head. “I know he’s big into church. Quotes the Bible and stuff. Told me I should come to his service.”

“Where at?”

“That big church on the hill by the bus station. I don’t know what it’s called.”

He watched her a moment, seeing if she would open up and say anything else if he kept quiet, but she didn’t. He let go of the door and opened it, then held it as she got in and shut it for her.

“If you’re lying to me—”

“I’m not.”

He backed away as she started the truck, rolled in reverse, and then glanced at him one more time before driving away.

Lazarus gave a quick wave and headed toward his car, which was parked around front.