100 Theme Challenge #74

Sequel of #50, #51, #52, #54, #60, #68,  #69, #70 and #73.

74. Scars

Part X

"I've got some news about the person who found the second victim." Gary told Jack promptly.

"Yes?"

"In fact he came down to the police station, and they called me right away. Lucky thing I knew where you'd be."

"He came on his own?" Jack asked, already fumbling through the inner pocket of his long coat to retrieve his wallet.

"Surprisingly enough, yes. He said he'd wait for the both of us to tell what he had to. I didn't see him, but already he seems alright."

"Okay then, I'll be right there."

He returned the phone received to the barman and turned to Kenneth whose glass was now empty. He placed some bills on the counter.

"Here, get loose on me."

"Thanks."

He looked like he meant it for listening to him as well, and Jack squeezed his shoulder for a second before exiting the bar.

At last, some clue! They'd be running around so long Jack forgot the thrill of actually having a trail. He made his tires hiss in protest on the way back to the office, but judging by Gary's tone on the phone, it was worth it. He made it in record time, and his partner smirked in greeting.

"He's waiting inside the interrogation room. I'll let you do the talking."

"Thanks."

The man didn't look afraid, instead he looked apprehensive, and he jumped a bit when they entered the small room.

"Good afternoon, Mister. We're really interested in knowing what you have to tell us."

"I hope whatever I tell you will help in your case."

Jack forced himself to smile reassuringly. "Don't worry, everything will stay confidential. We just need your name first."

"Ethan Moss, I'm the one who found that guy in the alley," he sighed at that, probably remembering exactly what he saw. "I also called the cops, but I didn't want to stay to talk to them, it was enough as it was." He threw a look at the two officers before lowering his gaze, unshed tears threatening to escape. He sniffed. Without talking, Gary went out and returned with a box of tissues.

"Thank you."

"You knew Mister Thompson?" Jack asked, slightly uncomfortable at the display. Ethan nodded.

"Yes, in fact I knew him pretty well. We both were waiters at Chez Petri, but I quit for another job at the time. That's how we met. Him and I are-… I mean, him and I were lovers." He pressed one hand against his face, trying to contain his emotions, and Jack and Gary looked at each other.

"Were you in an exclusive relationship?"

"Yes, Scott didn't care if people knew about his homosexuality, but I did, so that's why I left the waiter job. The night he died, he was on his way to see me, and I went out when he wouldn't arrive… And I think that man who was harassing him at his job had to do with his murder."

"Did you ever meet him?" Gary asked, taking notes in his small pad.

"Once, when I joined Scott at the end of one of his shifts. He looked normal, but the way he had to watch Scott from his booth was just unsettling."

"Unsettling?"

Ethan nodded, lips tightly pressed together. "He had something in his eyes that literally sent me a warning, and I tried to talk about it with Scott, but he only said he already talked to the man and that it was now okay. That look didn't tell me the same thing though, but I didn't know what to do."

"It doesn't mean he was the killer, don't feel guilty about it. We'll find whoever did this, and you'll be the first to know, Mister Thompson. What you just told us will help us in this case." Jack affirmed, and Gary accompanied the man out while he returned to his desk.

"Are you thinking the same thing than I am?" Gary asked when he came back.

"I think we are, but we have to confirm if the killer's really after homosexuals. It might just be a coincidence, but…"

"You don't believe in those," Gary finished for him.

Then it clicked. Why had Mister Lewinski seem so depressed around him, brooding as much as him at the bar, asking him all these questions? It might not have been for the reasons he'd thought so far.

(What is 100TC?)