Page 53 of Mike

Mike nodded.

“Well I got lucky. The night I was under your ex’s car, tagging it, I heard a couple guys talking about ‘product’, so I stayed put and listened. Turns out the tractor owner I mentioned, whose name is Benji Havastill, agreed to keep the group’s product in his rig because the storage facility where they normally hide it is up for sale and under inspection right now. I watched that transfer happen earlier last night. The second guy who was with Benji, whom I’ve yet to receive a profile on? Benji called him Chuck. He’s the one who told Benji to keep the fentanyl in his semi until their unit is out from under scrutiny.”

“Benji and Chuck,” Mike glowered and shook his head. “They’re known to all law enforcement around here.”

He then gave her the information her own office had neglected to forward. “Chuck’s last name is Banito, and he’s been in and out of jail a lot. All minor infractions. Benji, too. Although I’m surprised at Benji’s involvement. He’s been on the straight and narrow for four or five years now, having married a local gal who’s a ball-buster. They even have two kids, if I’m not mistaken.” Mike grimaced. “Tiffany bought Benji his tractor with some settlement money she got from a botched surgical procedure that killed her mother. Tiff would put Benji’s prick in a vise if she knew he was back into illegal dealings.”

Joe tapped her lip. “Benji actually sounded very reluctant to store the substance in his rig. He complained, but Chuck shut him down. The higher-ups must have something on the man.”

“No doubt,” Mike speculated.

“But you know it’s not Benji we want,” Joelle felt the need to say.

“No. I get it. You’re working your way up the food-chain to shut things down.” Mike concurred. “Now, thanks to sharing with me, you know Anthony’s name, and can consider him your prime suspect.”

“Mmm, hmm,” Joe murmured, finally picking up the menu in front of her at Mike’s mention of food-chain. She was slammed hungry. “But I need to make sure Mr. Nugget is the man shipping to the local cartel we’re looking to bust in Nevada. If not, I’ll have to be patient and wait to see if there’s someone more important involved. Thoughts?” she asked as her eyes flew over the restaurant’s offerings.

Mike grinned. “About the menu, or about whether or not I think Anthony is your number one?”

“Both,” Joe snickered.

“Okay. Here’s my food pick. It’s always safe to go with the prime rib.”

Joe liked that choice.

“And as far as we know,” Mike continued, “Anthony doesn’t answer to anybody. So I think he’s your man.”

Joelle smiled. “Good.” Maybe it wouldn’t take much longer to shut the operation down. Although that meant a new career choice was on the horizon, which made her both worried over what and where that should be, and giddy that it might involve Mike.

The server came over to take their order, and Joe, bringing her mind back to present, did as suggested, and ordered the prime rib with a baked potato and spinach. Mike followed suit, but chose Brussel sprouts as his vegetable.

“Eww. Brussel sprouts?” Joe made a face. She’d never liked the nasty green orbs that she thought tasted like skunk perfume.

“Are you kidding? They’re the best,” Mike countered with a gleam in his eye. “I’ll share if you like.”

“Uh, uh. No way. Don’t think you’re getting anywhere near me with those horrid little monsters.” Joelle narrowed her eyes. “As a matter of fact, since you’re eating them, if you’re thinking of getting your mouth up close to mine tonight, you’ll have to brush your teeth first. Twice.”

“That bad, huh?” Mike chuckled.

“Worse. My uncles used to cook them when they were on leave, and the house would smell like snit for days. I’d gag every time I walked in.”

Mike threw back his head and laughed. “I was that way with liver,” he commiserated. “My dad loves it, and it made me want to puke.”

Joe chuckled. “I wonder what it is that you cook for your kids that they’ll hold against you when they’re older.”

“Nothing,” Mike answered smugly. “I’m perfect. Didn’t you know?”

“Gosh, you sound like my uncles.”

Mike laughed and regarded her closely. “This is the third time you’ve mentioned uncles. Why don’t you tell me about them?”

Joelle grinned. They were one of her favorite subjects. “They’re quite the pair. Twins, you know. They’re my father’s younger brothers, and when he passed away during my senior year in high school, they both left the service to make sure I had a solid home, a lot of love, and an education in the finer points of swearing.”

She despised Lester, her supervisor, for taking that away from her.

“They were a couple of profane, retired Army Rangers, but they nurtured me and paid for my college education.”

“Which only makes me have a slew more questions.” Mike took a sip of his water.

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