Skin Game by J.D. Allen

Author:J.D. Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: CVR01312018;nineteen souls;19 souls;jd allen;j.d. allen;j. d. allen;j.d. allan;mystery;mystery book;mystery novel;mystery fiction;sin city investigation;sin city mystery series;las vegas;jim bean;jim beam;pi;private investigator;las vegas mystery;las vegas mystery series;CVR11132018
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2018-12-18T18:51:44+00:00

23

Jim heard Oscar pull the Franken-bike up beside the townhouse. He gunned it once before shutting it down. So it didn’t surprise Jim when the man entered the office. Without knocking. For such a big guy, he was quiet and moved like a trained athlete. He eased himself into Jim’s chair. It creaked as Oscar spun toward the big board and stretched his legs. In that position, he took up most of the room.

Jim should have treated this situation with some seriousness from the beginning, but he’d been blinded by anger and hurt pride. Now he was charting it up. Pictures. Information. Working the board. The way he had learned in his investigative classes, the way he did most all his cases. But he’d cleared the board of his other cases for this one.

“So … Korey. What the fuck is the deal with the chick?”

No way the bounty hunter missed Erica calling him by his real name. So here it went. He hadn’t done this in years. Not once since he changed his name. Not since coming to Vegas.

“I changed my name. Six years ago.” He hesitated. Felt sweat start to bead on his back. “Eight years ago, in Ohio, I was accused of sexual assault with a weapon.” He watched Oscar’s face. The cringe came. It always did, even though it was just a slight twitch of muscle under his dark skin. Even those who knew him, when he said the words aloud, they flinched like he’d thrown a punch. Everyone made the face.

“And kidnapping.” It was the face that haunted his dreams. Almost as much as Erica’s rejection.

It didn’t matter that the charges were all dropped. Didn’t matter that he had never done anything to begin with. The charges were so inflammatory. The words so distasteful. Sexual assault.

The mere combination of syllables frightened women. The idea of it angered men. Disgust always crossed once-friendly faces. Always would. That was why Alexis had urged him to come to Vegas, to start over. Everyone here had a past, but no one cared what it was. No one would have to know his.

“Holy shit, dude.” Oscar sat up. The disgust fell away quick. After all, he was in the business. He knew the system well. Understood the ramifications of a false accusation.

“Falsely. Of course,” Jim still felt the need to add. “But I’d have been better off if it had been murder charges.”

Oscar nodded in agreement. “Hard to pick up the ladies with that out there, huh?”

Jim huffed. “Lost more than the ladies. I lost a bundle of money and my spot with the FBI. Not to mention my dignity.” Somehow it felt good to say it again after all these years with no one to talk to about it. And Oscar would understand. He’d seen it happen as a bondsman. Every now and then the wrong guy did get arrested. “And the girl.” Jim looked toward the front of the townhouse.

“Aren’t too many times the wrong guy gets nailed, but it’s hell when it happens.

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