#Chapter 76 Lucas Hanson

Lucas Hanson was every bit the grizzled private eye stereotype I expected. Salt and pepper beard, dark fedora, tan trench coat, an unlit cigar hanging out of his mouth, even the pose. He stood in the living room when we entered, hands in his pockets and looking mysterious as anything.

"Claudia Scarlet and Ken Joseph, I presume."

"That would be us." Ken stuck his hand out for a shake, and the man examined it with a skeptical eye before accepting it. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I heard you've been on the case for over a year."

"Not the entire time. I only do the work I'm paid for." Lucas raised a lit lighter to his cigar, but reconsidered after looking around and remembering he was indoors, evidently. He tucked the light back into his pocket. "But yeah. A month on the case before. And been a month and a half that I've worked on it again. Found some things. Trails die fast, though. Should have kept me on it instead of taking me off the first time."