bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

"Must bad if you're here. People don't usually care 'bout people like us." It must look bad on someone somewhere if they can't even keep someone from killing the undesirable en masse. "You don't look at us like the other cops do." There's always something in their eyes: judgment, disgust. Some of them try not to look them in eye as if they might end up in their shoes. Or their beds.

"There's a lotta repeat business around here. Two blocks up you got the, uh, ladies." He meant the men who crossdressed. "Are they bein' targetted, too?"

"Most law enforcement didn't grow up the way I did." And that counted for a lot. A background like his could really change the way one looked at people living like this. While Gabriel wished he could get them all out of this life, he knew that wasn't possible. All he could do was make the streets as safe as possible for them.

At the question, he gave a sigh and nodded. Yes, they were being targeted too. He didn't say more because their food had arrived. So he smiled at the server and waited until they were alone again. "I'd like to be able to help get this criminal off the streets. Do you have a phone, Dal? I can give you my number so you can reach me if you hear anything."

"Oh," he sighed, a little deflated by hearing that news. He doesn't talk to the ladies much, but he sees them often at some of the diners most of them pop into for a cup of coffee or a few minutes of warmth in the colder weather. He'd kinda hoped they weren't involved in this, but it seemed like it was across the board.

When the food came, a bit of light came into Dal's eyes. He gave a little nod of thanks to the server before they left and immediately began to dig in by dipping his toast into his egg yolks. Tucking the bite of food into his cheek, Dal nodded and gave a quiet mmhmm. He reached into a pocket inside his jacket and slid his phone across the table to Gabriel to punch in his number.

So he did have a phone. Taking a bite of the food, he watched him a moment. There was a sort of innocence to Dal. True he was anything but that given the life he lived. But there he was enjoying his food as if it was the best thing he'd ever tasted. It had a way of lighting up his pretty features and...

Gabriel had to remind himself that he was very gay and that this wasn't appropriate. Taking the phone, he put his number in as well as his name so that way if Dal really wanted to call him he could. He had good faith that Dal would just because he was building something here with him but he didn't get his hopes up at the same time. Law enforcement weren't exactly the favorites of people on the streets.

"Do you have a ride to where you live? I can give you one so you can get there safely tonight."

It's one of those pay-as-go Tracfone deals and the most valuable thing he's got. He doesn't just trawl the streets. There were a few regulars who set up dates that way. All his contacts are first names or nicknames only.

Maybe it could be called innocence, in a way. Dal lives a hard life so he also finds simple pleasures in it. He's a realist. but he doesn't want to be jaded. Oh, sure, he's got dreams like anyone else, but they're pretty mundane things like a little house outside the city, friends or people who would actually miss him if he were gone.

Dal froze at Gabriel's question, then shook his head slowly. "That's a real nice offer, but I don't really like people knowin' where I stay." Especially since the situation wasn't wholly legal.

"That's fine. Just know that if you change your mind when you're done eating the offer is still there."

But Gabriel wasn't going to make Dal do anything. That all had to be Dal's choice and he'd respect whatever that choice was. He didn't have to like it, just honor it. And he was fine with that. Pushing boundaries just because he was worried wouldn't establish trust between them and he knew that.

Instead, he settled for continuing to eat quietly, grateful for the meal since it had been hours since he last ate. And he slid the phone back to him.

Dal pocked his phone and went back to eating, occasionally making some happy little hum when the combination of flavors hit just right. Not that there was anything complex about his breakfast fare, but this is also a man who thinks pizza is the peak of cuisine.

He was a little more than halfway finished when he slowed to a stop. Looking up from his plate, he peered over at Gabriel with a hesitant kind of curiosity. "I'm sure you're not supposed to talk about it but... there anythin' you can tell me that would help us out there?" Some tiny bit of information that he could send up through the gossip grapevine that might help keep them safer.

"Your guess is as good as mine. Right now I haven't found the pattern between all these murders. When I do I'll better be able to start tracking down the killer to put an end to their cruelty. So I guess the best I can say is...be careful who you talk to."

Because the one thing he was sure of was that these people had all trusted the one who had killed them. Enough to go with them somewhere, enough to barely struggle when they were being killed. There had been no sign of added drugs to their systems. Yet all of them had been drowned.

Gabriel let out a long sigh. "I'm going to find the one who is doing this though. I promise that."

It might not seem like it from an outside perspective, given their lifestyle, but most of them are pretty careful. If someone gives a bad vibe, most folks walk away. If someone's name has made it through the streets as someone who's particularly depraved, they typically get blacklisted by people who have boundaries. Yeah, most of them have boundaries. Dal, for example, won't let anyone choke him unless he's known them for a long time. He didn't let people tie him up unless he's known them a long time. Those were risks he didn't take with total strangers.

Of course, he knew some who were down for anything. A lot of them had bigger problems than trying not to sleep in the streets. Dal wasn't judging them, he had his own safety to worry about. He understood that people did whatever they needed to do to survive.

He relaxed enough to let the worry creep into his features. Yeah, he was worried. For everyone working the streets. For himself. "I hope you do," he admitted in a small voice.

"I will, Dal."

He knew that this young man was worried for his own safety and the safety of others. In truth, Gabriel was too. The police force wanted to make fun of him by calling him some kind of angel but he wasn't one of those. He was just a man who wanted to be there to help others. In his experience, angels were willing to let the world suffer as long as they fulfilled God's will.

There was a reason he'd never been a religious man. The fact that he was gay only added to that honestly.

He gave him a reassuring smile. "So if you hear anything at all you can call that number or text me. I'll look into it right away. The cops may not want to listen but I do."

He nodded, offering a hopeful smile. He's sure half the reason this killer hasn't been caught yet is because the local law enforcement didn't really give a shit. The cops who patrolled this area were probably burned out and/or of the mind that it's just so easy to get out of living situations like this. But this guy, this agent, it really felt like he was more understanding and that he saw them as people first.

"I keep night hours so if I see somethin' I'll text. Unless it's an emergency."

"Luckily I'll be keeping night hours for the most part until this is solved so that works out."

Gabriel gave a soft laugh then finished his food and went to drink more of his coffee. None of this was the best food he'd ever had, that he'd save for his mother's cooking. But at least he was being fed and even making sure that Dal had something warm inside him.

"I keep my phone on at all times though."

"Me too." Every now and then he gets a call during the daytime. As long as it's not in the morning, he's usually up for those, but they're infrequent. He charges more for those since they're off-hours for him.

Dal took a few more bites, leaving behind only the crust of his toast before finishing off his coffee. Usually, he makes do with leftovers from a diner closer to where he sleeps -- a nice older lady there saves what would otherwise get thrown away and boxes it up for him to take. But he's got no way to warm it.

"Hopefully can go back to bein' a daywalker soon." He looked to the plate then nodded subtly. "Thanks for breakfast."

"Not changed your mind?" He understood though. Dal was just trying to keep himself safe and he wouldn't fault him for that. Instead he just gave him a smile and got out his wallet to pay for the meal. "Then I'll talk to you later hopefully. I might be by that area again sometime to look for more leads. Without the annoying cops joining me with any luck for all of us."

Dal shook his head. It wasn't particularly cold or gross outside, so he was fine walking a few blocks back the way they came. He did a lot of walking since he didn't have any transportation of his own. It's probably the only real exercise he got.

"You'll have better luck without 'em," he advised. "They'd like it better if there wasn't attention on people like us."

"I know. I just need a good reason to go in alone."

He sat there with his coffee then gave the pretty young man a nod. "I'll stay here so that way you don't feel like I'm following you home. It should be your choice to tell me where that is and not mine."

Because he understood how important safety and privacy was for these people. And he would respect that.

Seeing that Gabriel wasn't getting up to leave, he paused. "Can I ask ya somethin' before I go?" He waited for some indication that it would be okay before he continued. "You work with people from the street a lot?" It was just the impression he had given how Gabriel behaved toward them. The lack of judgment or disgust, the genuine caring about them.

He nodded to let him know that he'd answer him. Whatever the question was. Then he smiled at the other. "I do. All the time. I'm the one they usually send out to talk to people out in the world because I have a better understanding of people than most in law enforcement usually do."

He sipped at his coffee. "I grew up on the streets. And, something not a lot know about me, my mother worked the same profession you do. Back in Mexico."

Ah, that explained it. It's easier to humanize someone when you've experienced something like they have. He offered a warm smile and nodded in thanks for Gabriel sharing with him. "No one's gonna hear it from me." He may always have an ear out for news on the street, but he's not one to share the private business of others unless it could affect someone else directly.

Rising from his seat, Dal shoved his hands back into his jacket pocket and nodded once again. "Thanks again for the food. If ya need to find me again, I'm always pretty close to the block ya found me on."

"Good to know." The fact that Dal wouldn't share and the fact that he'd be nearby. He nodded to him and then looked straight ahead. To make sure he wouldn't see what direction Dal went. It wasn't what he would have preferred but you couldn't build trust by always thinking of yourself first. That simply wasn't how it worked.

Once he was gone, he paid for the meals then headed back to his hotel to get some sleep. Over the next few days he had some leads followed and he started to realize that this had to be someone with a good deal of power. But who? That was the problem. Especially when he didn't know where all these people were disappearing.

Without telling the police where he was going or what he was up to, he headed back to the area where he'd met Dal. With him, he brought food and blankets. No point in asking questions without giving something in return. A few people later and he saw Dal.

He smiled as he nodded his head. "In need of some food again? I brought sandwiches."

Dal didn't think much about their little breakfast meeting beyond the general keeping his eyes open for anything suspicious part. And maybe that Gabriel was too handsome to be a cop. But that was silly. No one said every good-looking person had to be a movie star or a model. What Gabriel will probably notice is that this block of full of younger pretty boys. A few blocks over, the ladies Dal mentioned. A few blocks from that... Well, certain types kept to certain places. It was easier for most of them to stay in the same place because that's where the johns go to look for their specific type.

Before Dal could even answer, his stomach spoke up on his behalf. He hadn't had anything but a cup coffee in the morning before crashing out for the day. He happened to have warm water today, so he grabbed a quick shower before heading out and missed the nice lady that usually handed him leftovers out the back door of the diner. So, yeah, the mere mention of food had his stomach rumbling. He clutched it and let out a quiet laugh. "No onions, right? Can't have my breath smellin'."

"No onions. No garlic. Promise." Pulling a wrapped sandwich from his bag, he handed it over to Dal so that way he could start eating. He even got out a bottle of water to hand over to him as well. Once he was sure that Dal had the food, he went to go sit down so he could chat with him.

"Heard anything while you were out here?" Probably not but he could still ask.

There's a covered bus stop just nearby that makes for a convenient spot for them to sit. "Nothin' you don't already know," he offered with a disappointed sigh. Unwrapping the sandwich, he looked over to the people gathering for what they often call 'the nightly meat market.'

"I talked with the guy who lived with..." the last victim. Dal choked a little, then faked a cough to cover it up. "He said he didn't see anything weird. But it got me thinkin'... There's like, what do ya call 'em? The people who work with people like us and try and get us off the street?" He's grasping for 'social workers.' He took a small bite and chewed it delicately before glancing back to Gabriel. "They're the sorta people we wouldn't think twice of bein' here, ya know? Maybe who you're lookin' for is passin' themself off like one of the people tryna help us."

Dal doesn't consider himself a smart person. Not book smart, anyway. It's probably something Gabriel's already considered. But on the off-chance that he hadn't... It was worth noting.

Though this was something he'd considered already, he liked hearing it from someone like Dal. "You know, one of the ladies over there said the same," he noted as he nodded in the direction of the ladies that Dal had mentioned to him before. They'd all liked him and great deal and had been eager to talk with them. Gossip really. But even gossip had its worth if you knew how to weed through the drama to find the facts you needed. Read between the lines as it were.

"Do you mean social workers? I was thinking perhaps them or some kind of volunteer. Which leads me to what I wanted to ask you actually. Is there an organization that most in your profession prefer to go to? For supplies you need."

He had a feeling that Dal didn't really tend to go there based on their last interaction. But if he knew something and it lined up with other answers that Gabriel had heard so far then it would give him a good place to look into.

Dal looked up, taking another larger bite. He took the time he was chewing to think about the question.

"There's people from GLITS, the Sex Workers Project, and Children of the Night out here on the regular. But the real help comes from the religious charities." Ironic. "There's a popular shelter that has a soup kitchen that some church runs. A lot of the same faces work there week after week. That place also helps us with supplies: clothes, blankets, condoms. There's even a doctor and a lawyer that comes by once a week in case we need 'em. Not sure what church it is, but I can show you the place."

He started out there. He still goes there from time to time for a hot meal and a handful of prophylactics. Sometimes when the owners of the building he crashes in go away and lock him out. They still expect the rent, but forget to tell him he won't have access. Woops.

"You mind walkin'?"

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