Page 73 of Mountain Man Officer

I nodded.

“The Mafia would deliver its stacks of cash, and then the hair salon would wash the money through their purchases of product. They actually had more people on the books than just the two part-time girls.”

“How many?” I got myself a cup, having skipped breakfast at the cabin.

“Nine. Made-up names.”

I nodded again.

“The weekly transactions that Lindsey witnessed were transfers of clean money.”

“And the drugs?” I asked.

“Side hustle,” Ryan explained. “Offloading product that couldn’t be sold in Nashville.”

“Because it was too dangerous?” I guessed.

“You got it,” Ryan confirmed. “This assistant said that they all knew we were close and that she was afraid Katrina and Lena thought of her as the weak link. She ran away at the raid because she was terrified of them, not us.”

“And the owner?” I asked, “The one I chased into the dog pen?”

Ryan laughed. “She’ll be going away for a long time.”

“She’s not claiming any police brutality?” I wondered.

“I don’t think so. She doesn’t have a case. That family you saw witnessed everything. I think your bases are covered.”

“Good,” I sighed.

“You want to go grab some breakfast?” Ryan suggested. “You look like you could use it.”

I nodded. We took a patrol car, just in case, and drove to the diner. Inside, the welcome was warm. Everyone seemed to know what had happened yesterday and took pains to make me feel comfortable. The waitress left an entire carafe of coffee at our table.

“Just ask if you need anything,” she said.

“Can I have two eggs and a side of bacon?” I asked.

“Of course.” She wrote down my order, took Ryan’s, and disappeared into the kitchen.

“So,” Ryan said when we were alone again. “Lindsey’s pregnant.”

“And the whole town seems to know,” I said.

“Small town.”

“Takes some getting used to.” I sighed.

“What are your thoughts?”

“I’m gonna marry her,” I decided. “If she’ll have me.”

“Take her on a vacation,” Ryan suggested. “Get her out of town for a while.”

“I just got here,” I complained.

“You delivered two significant busts,” Ryan told me. “The hair salon, and now your ex. I’m sure the chief’ll give you some time off.”

“Lindsey said she wanted to visit Florida,” I mused.

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