Chapter 7

Dutch sat at his desk, drumming his fingers on the surface, his thoughts circling back to the strange man he'd seen at El Sol Wraps. There was something about the guy—his erratic behavior, the wife beater, the stench of sweat and garbage—that just didn't sit right. Dutch knew better than to ignore his instincts, especially after everything that had been happening lately. He decided to pay another visit to the restaurant, hoping to speak to the server. Maybe she remembered something else about that night.

When he arrived, the familiar scent of grilled tortillas and spices filled the air. It was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered around. As Dutch stepped through the door, he spotted the server from before, her back turned, leaning over the counter and chatting with a customer. He was about to get her attention when he overheard something that made him stop in his tracks.

"Oh my god," she was saying, her voice dripping with disbelief. "And then after this schizo dumped me, I found out he had a fucking diaper kink."

Dutch raised an eyebrow. Diapers? That was too coincidental not to matter. He cleared his throat, stepping forward. "So, this boyfriend of yours had a... diaper fetish?" he asked, his voice low but firm, cutting through the restaurant's noise.

The server jumped, spinning around, her eyes widening when she saw him. "Oh! Detective... I didn't see you come in." She looked flustered but quickly composed herself. "Uh, yeah. It's... not something I'm proud of. That guy's long gone, though. No more diaper weirdos for me."

Dutch tilted his head slightly, his expression neutral but inquisitive. "How long ago was this, exactly?" He wasn't just fishing for information; he wanted to make sure there wasn't some other strange connection forming under the surface.

She hesitated, glancing at the customer sitting in front of her—McMeowin, who was quietly munching on his wrap but clearly listening in. "Like, a few months ago? He broke up with me out of nowhere. Honestly, I thought it was weird he'd even brought up the diaper thing." She rolled her eyes. "But trust me, he's still out there. Probably jerking off to girls in diapers right now."

Dutch frowned, still not satisfied. "This guy. He didn't happen to wear diapers when he was with you, did he?" He wasn't trying to pry into her personal life, but the details mattered. He needed to know if there was a connection to the case.

The server blinked, surprised by the line of questioning. "No, no. At least not when we were together. I found out after we split. He's... he's definitely alive, detective. And I'm not dating him... or any other diaper freak"

Dutch leaned in a little, lowering his voice. "Just needed to double check. We found a guy last night who fits a similar profile. Just want to make sure you aren't connected to him too."

McMeowin, still at the counter, finally chimed in with a sigh. "Well, I'm still traumatized by the complete weed addict I was introduced to. I didn't need any of that to happen."

Dutch turned to face him, taken aback. "Are you talking about the same guy from the other night?"

McMeowin nodded, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Yeah, the guy I went out with—total weed and diaper freak. And now he's dead. It's all too weird for me, honestly."

Dutch studied McMeowin for a moment, wondering just how tangled this web was becoming. Was he venting to the server about the victim?

Dutch took a step back, piecing it all together in his head. He glanced from the server to McMeowin, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had come here looking for answers, but it seemed like the deeper he dug, the stranger things became.

"Well, I'm heading to the bar. I need something strong today" McMeowin said.

As he turned to leave, Vic Mackey strolled into the restaurant, immediately spotting Dutch near the counter. With his usual swagger, Vic grinned and sauntered over. "Dutchboy, what are you doing here? Flirting with the server again?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with teasing sarcasm.

Dutch's face tightened. "I'm here on business, Vic. This might be tied to a murder."

Vic glanced at the server, then at McMeowin, and back to Dutch. "A murder? Here? You sure you're not just trying to avoid the paperwork back at the Barn?"

Dutch's jaw clenched. "I'm serious. This could be the guy we've been looking for."

Vic laughed, shaking his head. "Well, if this is an official investigation, where's your partner? Or is this a solo mission so you can sneak in a wrap?"

Dutch bristled, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. "It's nothing like that. I'm just following a lead."

Vic smirked. "Sure you are, Dutchboy. You better be careful. Wouldn't want anyone to see your dirty buisiness at this establishment, right?"

Dutch stiffened at the comment. Had Vic seen him with Melvina the other night? He didn't stick around to find out. Turning on his heel, he left the restaurant in a hurry, his mind racing as he headed back to the Barn. Things were unraveling fast, and the last thing he needed was Vic digging into his personal life while he was trying to solve a murder.

- McMeowin pushed open the door to the bar, feeling the need for a strong drink after the mess of the night. Between the diaper drama with Adam, the murder, and Dutch's stern questioning, the only thing he wanted now was to forget it all. His cat ears wobbled slightly as he slouched onto a barstool, signaling to the bartender without a word.

As McMeowin sat, lost in thought, he caught sight of a woman a few stools down. She had a round belly, clearly pregnant, and was very clearly drinking. She glanced at him, curiosity lighting up her face when she noticed his cat ears.

"Rough night?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

McMeowin sighed heavily, tugging at his ears. "You have no idea."

She gave him a half-smile, gesturing to the drink in front of her. "Well, I've got time. What happened?"

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Went on this date with a guy. Thought maybe it would be a good night. Turns out he was into diapers." He winced, remembering the bizarre sight of Adam in that diaper outside the bar. "And now he's dead. Murdered. I found him after I went to the bathroom."

The woman's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, dead? Like, for real?"

McMeowin nodded, swirling the drink that had just been placed in front of him. "Yeah, for real. Found him out there, and now the cops are all over it. The detective from earlier thinks I might've seen the killer. But honestly?" He paused, staring into the amber liquid. "I just want to forget tonight ever happened."

The woman, still a little taken aback, shook her head slowly. "Damn. That's... a lot to take in." She let out a small sigh, then added, "But hey, at least you dodged the whole diaper situation, right?"

McMeowin chuckled dryly, taking a sip of his whiskey sour. "Yeah, I guess that's one silver lining."

They sat in silence for a moment, McMeowin sipping his drink while the woman, who was clearly deep in thought, kept glancing at him. Finally, she leaned forward, resting her hand on her belly.

"Honestly, I've had a bit of a crazy time myself," she said, her voice quieter now. "I got knocked up by my AA sponsor."