Chapter 16
HOPPER
“So…what’s he like?” Jake asks, strolling over to check out Boone’s half-finished piece.
His eyes snap to Hopper’s, who raises his palms.
“This has echoes of Walter Sickert,” Jake says, concern in his voice.
“Wait, you know who Walter Sickert is?” Hopper asks, teasing his old friend.
“I had a Jack the Ripper phase in high school,” Jake answers with a self-conscious shrug.
“Lots of people think Sickert was the Ripper. He often painted scenes that positioned the bodies similarly to the bodies the Ripper and other murderers left behind. Necklaces and scarves that represented slashed throats…”
Hopper nods, bouncing on his heels. “Hitch was a little shy about sharing his work with me, but he’s actually quite good.”
Anders, uncharacteristically quiet, tilts his head to the side. “You did hear Jake say that it looks like the art of Jack the Ripper, right?”
Hopper bites a nail, brows coming together. “Wait, is that…bad?”
“I don’t think it’s good.”
Well, shit. If Anders thinks it’s a little off, it might be a little off.
Hopper’s not the best person to consult with on those things.
“Hitch says it helps get the more disturbing images out of his head. At least, that’s what he told me.”
Parker gestures at the piece. “You do understand that you’re responsible for putting this image in his head, right?”
Hopper flushes, modest as he dips his chin, unable to hide the smile. He can’t help it. Honestly? He’s a little proud of himself.
“You should’ve seen him with that painting knife. So vivid. So alive.”
“Uh, Hopper?” Jake asks.
“Yeah?” Hopper says, scrubbing a hand over his face. They’ve already spent an hour catching him up on Whitaker, leverage, and Boone Hitchens—none of which sits right in his chest yet.
“You called us all here today because you have news?”
“Oh yes.” Hopper gives a little bounce. “I think I want to be Boone’s friend.”
“You want to be friends with the guy who paints like Jack the Ripper?” Hedy asks, tilting her head.
“I like him. I think he’s a really good guy.”
“Hopper, were you not listening? He could put you away for life.”
Hopper throws his head back, laughing as if that’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. When the room goes silent, he looks around. “Oh, you’re serious.”
The friends shuffle uncomfortably. Hedy isn’t one for overly dire warnings.
“If Hitchens goes after you, then we have to go after him.”
“And you don’t think this could be a keep your friends close and enemies closer thing?” Hopper asks, pushing his hands out. “Don’t you think we should have a friend in the local police department?”
“Only if he’s actually on our side, sweetie,” Parker says, patting his shoulder. “We shouldn’t be friends with him like that unless he’s on the inside.”
“Oh.” Hopper bites at his lip. “Should I disinvite him?”
Everyone shakes their head.
“I just can’t be his friend.”
Everyone nods.
Hopper wilts, and it’s the saddest thing ever.
“None of that makes any sense to me,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. “Besides, I just wanna be his friend. Maverick is the one who wants to be his boyfriend, fall in love, and get married.”
Odd and DB raise their brows simultaneously.
“And what makes you think that?” DB asks, his voice weirdly calm.
Anders taps his chin thoughtfully. “Maverick talks about Hitchens a lot for someone he’s only met a few times. Calls him Booney.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right.” Hopper pulls his chin back. “Wait. How do you know that?”
Anders and Omar share a look. “Just a little light…reconnaissance.”
Reconnaissance, as in several state-of-the-art bugs pilfered from the weapons locker and scattered throughout the kids’ condo.
Rami busted them a while ago, and they promised to remove all listening devices. While the dads always take matters of trust seriously, Hopper has his suspicions.
Parker shakes her head. “We are gonna get into that at a later time.” She turns to Hopper. “I get that it’s confusing. It seems like Boone Hitchens is a really good man. But he’s dangerous.”
“No, he’s not,” Hopper insists. “He’s not. I can feel it. We’re…connected somehow, and he is not dangerous. Not to me, at least.”
Parker gives Hop her best patient expression and reaches for his hand.
“Even if he’s not dangerous to you, he could be a danger to the mission.
” She pauses and exchanges a glance with the others.
“Jake and Ryder are deep into Whitaker now. With the death of his son, he’s escalated from liability to active threat.
We don’t want him on Whitaker’s radar any more than he already is. He’s already too close for comfort.”
Well then, Whitaker better just stay the fuck away.
“Okay,” Hopper says, dejected. “But I’m still gonna let Boone paint with me because he’s got good energy and a really big cat.”
Hopper’s friends gather around him, pulling him into a big hug as they chuckle.
“That sounds like a good compromise, Hop.”
“As long as Patch likes his cat, that sounds okay to me.”
“Never change, Hop.”
Heh. As if Hop would ever change.