CHAPTER 24
Diego was getting desperate. He had dedicated the last two days to searching for Hector—and by extension Oscar—with no success.
His biological father and his best friend were annoyingly elusive.
Diego had driven by the bar his grandmother mentioned, which was no longer in business, pored through phone books, called information, and even gone to the police, who kept asking if he wanted to file a missing person report.
After repeatedly clarifying that he was only trying to track down either of them, the cops suggested he hire a private detective.
That would be a viable option, if they weren’t running out of time.
Diego glanced over at Ricky, who sat sullenly in the passenger seat while staring down at his powered-off pager.
He’d switched it on earlier in the day and the thing had gone wild with missed calls.
Most of them from his parents. Ricky tried to pretend he didn’t care, but ever since then, he kept having silent spells.
Diego was beginning to miss his ceaseless chattering.
With only another day or two to spare, they’d have to make the trip back to Kansas soon.
If Diego was successful, Ricky would likely be making the drive alone.
He looked around in frustration. They were parked at the end of a busy street.
The very place where his grandmother had seen Hector while riding on the bus.
Diego had even made sure to be here at the same time, arriving an hour early and staying two hours past. Occasionally they got out of the car to stretch and walk around, but they didn’t wander far, in case Hector happened to pass by. Which he never did.
“This isn’t working,” Diego huffed. “Let’s drive around some more.”
Ricky nodded mutely and got out of the car to switch places.
That way he could drive while Diego checked everyone on the sidewalk and peered into every vehicle on the road.
He had little doubt about his ability to recognize either man.
Oscar was his double. Hector’s appearance was distinct.
The photo his grandmother provided revealed a man with unruly hair and squished features, like he’d been dropped on his face as a child.
Repeatedly. A brief impression is all it should take.
With his full attention dedicated to his task, Diego was unable to make conversation.
He turned on the radio to keep Ricky entertained while they cruised around.
The trip hadn’t been much of a vacation for either of them.
Instead of a tour of everything fun El Paso had to offer, he’d insisted they go out hunting.
He should probably put out or say something romantic to keep his boyfriend happy.
Then again, maybe it was better this way.
By the time the cops threw Diego in jail for murder, Ricky would be relieved to be done with the whole ordeal.
The sun set, making it difficult to see anyone at all.
“I’m hungry,” Ricky said. “Can we stop somewhere for food?”
“Sure. Let’s grab another burger.”
Ricky sighed. They had eaten at the same place twice already, since it was Oscar’s favorite.
Diego thought the joint sucked, but there was an off chance that his biological father might still eat there, even though his grandmother didn’t think Oscar was in El Paso anymore.
Anything was possible. Hector could show up there too.
They sat at a corner table, Diego wanting to keep an eye on the dining room.
“I’m getting homesick,” Ricky murmured.
Diego tore his eyes away from a pair who had just walked in and noticed the miserable expression. “What are you saying?”
“Maybe I should call my parents. So they know where I am. I’ve already made the trip. What are they going to do?”
“Insist you come back,” Diego replied.
Ricky didn’t seem too upset by the prospect.
“Or call the cops.”
That did it. His boyfriend grimaced and shook his head. “Never mind.”
Diego reached across the table. “Why don’t we get a room tonight? We can sleep in a real bed instead of on the pull-out couch. I’ll let you do whatever you want.”
That’s the way it would have to be. Diego could handle being passive. Probably. If he stayed on his back. God damn it! He felt like he’d been neutered. That wouldn’t change until he killed the piece of shit who had raped his mother.
“Okay,” Ricky said, clutching his hand. “That sounds romantic.”
“Just one more stop,” Diego said. “I wanna go by that bar again.”
Ricky’s smile faltered before regaining strength. “Sure! Why not?”
After they finished eating, he drove them to the address his grandma had provided.
The bar had shut down years ago, replaced by a strip club called Filly Fantasies.
The place looked abandoned during their first visit, but that had been the middle of the day.
Now, at night, the parking lot was half-full.
Diego pulled in, taking note of the bouncer stationed outside the entrance.
Then he parked at the far end of the lot, in the shadows.
“Wait here.”
“You’re going in?” Ricky asked in shock.
Diego nodded. “I just wanna find out if anyone here has seen either of them. I’ll be right back.”
He slipped out of the car before a big discussion could slow him down and puffed himself up on his way to the bouncer.
“You got ID?” the man asked.
Diego flashed his driver’s license, like he didn’t care. The man barely glanced at it, distracted by the photo he was handed. “You ever see either of these guys here?”
The bouncer cocked an eyebrow. “Are you here to serve papers or something?”
Diego scoffed. “Do I look like a fucking bureaucrat?”
“No. You look like trouble.”
The bouncer was built like a refrigerator with arms. He wasn’t jacked or anything, but weight often beat muscles. Diego might be able to take him, but he’d get seriously damaged in the process, so he dropped the attitude.
“Nah, man. I don’t mean any harm. That’s my old man on the right. The guy with the messed-up face used to run with him.”
The bouncer glanced at the photo again, the family resemblance undeniable.
“I never knew my dad and probably never will. But if I could find him or his buddy… I’m not here to hit anyone up for money.
I just wanna know what kind of man he is, hear some stories, that sort of thing.
They used to drink here back when it was MacDoogle’s so…
” He shrugged. “I figured it was worth a shot. Worst case scenario, I kick back a few beers while checking out some tits.”
The hard expression softened. Maybe the bouncer’s upbringing was similar or name-dropping the previous business’s name made the story more convincing. Either way, he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Yeah, I’ve seen his friend around.”
Diego couldn’t believe his luck. Finally, a break!
The bouncer moved aside, allowing him to enter.
Even if Hector wasn’t here at the moment, all he had to do was keep coming back, night after night.
If that meant driving Ricky home first, then so be it.
That might be better, actually. He never should have gotten Ricky mixed up in this mess.
Better that Diego simply disappear from his life without him ever finding out why.
The interior of the bar was dark and dingy.
Even the lights on stage were low, probably so people couldn’t see needle marks on the arms of the emaciated women who swayed back and forth listlessly.
The place was a dump. Diego let his eyes adjust before wading into low-hanging clouds of cigarette smoke.
Stealth wasn’t needed when checking out the patrons, their attention locked on the strippers.
Diego made two passes through the room, his disappointment increasing, because none of them were Hector.
He was just about to give up when a man stumbled out of the toilets while struggling with his belt.
The wild hair was grayer, the smooshed features having leathered, but there was no doubt. It was Hector!
Diego followed him back to the bar, taking the stool next to his. A number of empty glasses already sat there. The older man raised a hand to get the bartender’s attention.
“Make it two!” Diego hollered. “On me.”
Hector turned to him and squinted, his crinkled eyes shooting open a second later. The color drained from his face, as if he’d seen a ghost.
“I look just like him, huh?” Diego said with a friendly grin. “That’s what people keep telling me anyway.”
Hector stared a second longer before managing a response, his voice raspy. “You’re his boy! The one that he…”
“Yeah,” Diego said. “Who would do that to their own brother? Dude must have had balls of steel.”
“You know about that?” Hector asked.
“Yup.”
“The whole story?”
Diego sized him up. From the scandalized expression, he could only assume that Oscar had told him everything.
Including how he had raped Marti. That they had remained friends was all he needed to know about this man.
Diego didn’t let his disgust show. He merely shrugged. “All I know is that he’s my real dad.”
Fresh drinks were set in front of them. Diego raised a glass. Hector grabbed his and did the same, slurping half of it down. Diego sipped his, unsure what exactly it was. Gin, maybe.
“Holy shit,” Hector said with a laugh. “I can’t believe how much you look alike! How’d you find me?”
“My grandma said you guys used to drink here,” Diego said casually, “so I thought I’d check it out.
” He turned his attention to one of the strippers and leered while taking another sip, like that was his true goal in coming here.
Sagging breasts were jiggled in his face.
Diego pulled out some cash and gave it to the woman, hoping she would go away.
“They do lap dances here?” Diego asked when she backed off.
“Whatever you want,” Hector said. “If you’ve got the money.”
“Sweet,” Diego said, sizing up the other dancers. “They make you use a condom?”