He wets his lips. “I heard you wanted information on Luke Malone.”
I keep my face blank. “You heard wrong.” I’m not stupid enough to start discussing my business with a teenage runner I’ve never met.
Jason shifts in his seat, glancing between me and the men beside him. “But he’s selling girls,” he says quietly.
The room goes still. The kid’s voice shakes as he pushes on. “Please, Mr. Carmichael, I know I shouldn’t have come without permission. I know this is dangerous. But I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
I glance at Dale, then back at him. “Does Colin know about this?”
Jason nods. I feel my temper stir. “So, why isn’t he here telling me himself?”
His throat works as he swallows. “Because he said you wouldn’t want to know that bullshit. Said it wasn’t your business.”
My jaw tightens.
Dale steps forward. “So, you’ve gone behind your boss’s back?”
Jason shrinks into the chair. “Only because I don’t think it’s right,” he mutters. “Sorry, Mr. Carmichael. I just thought . . . I thought you should know.”
I drum my fingers once against the desk. “What Malone does is his business,” I say coldly, “and you know damn well you don’t come to me without your boss’s permission.”
He drops his gaze to the floor.
“How long have you worked for Booth?”
“Three years.”
I stare at him. “Jesus Christ.”
I lean back in my chair and look him over again. Scrawny, nervous and trying hard not to show how terrified he is.
I shoot Dale a look. He gets the message immediately and redials Colin’s number.
We do not employ kids.If Jason has been running for Colin for three years, then he was fourteen when he started, and that alone is enough to put me in a foul mood.
“You’ve put yourself in danger coming here,” I say, and he nods. “And you did that for a bunch of girls you don’t even know?” His eyes drop to the floor. I lean back in my chair. “You know one of them.”
He gives a small nod. “My girlfriend,” he mutters, his jaw tightens. “Colin got her hooked on drugs, then pushed her towards Malone Now, she’s like his fucking crackhead puppet.”
For a second, all I can do is stare at him. Then I scrub both hands over my face.
“How old?”
“Sixteen.”
“Shit.” I look away before I do something stupid. “How long has this been going on?”
“The last year or so,” he says. “I didn’t know how bad it was at first. Not properly. Then I threatened to come here and tell you everything . . .”
He trails off.
“And?” I prompt.
“And Booth lost his shit.” Jason swallows hard. “Told me to keep my mouth shut. Said if I wanted, he’d cut me in on the girls.”
Dale shifts beside me but says nothing. Right now, I’m one sentence away from putting my fist through the wall.
I stare at Jason for a long moment. Maybe he only came here for his girl. Maybe that was the main reason, but he still came.