Page 136 of Ready to Cash Out

“Seriously? Like what? Stuff that got seized in raids or whatever?”

“Exactly. Which is why they need a solid place for distribution. They have to break everything down and repackage it before selling it so no one can tell where it came from. A lot of dealers won’t touch anything that was seized, scared that it can be tracked.”

“Fascinating, but!” Trev smirked. “Wanna guess what’s behind door number three?”

“What? Wait, what happened to doors number one or two?”

“Oh my God, just go with it. Listen, I think I know why everybody is so worked up over that damn park back in Perry City.” Trev tapped the photo of Juicy. “Juicy always took Barkie for his walks, right? At least, when he had a real Barkie. And I kept hearing him talking about two trees, three trees, and then around the big wiener. Look.”

Jupiter blinked. “What am I looking at?”

“The big wiener is obviously the hot dog statue, right? Look at the trees in the back.” Trev tapped the photo. “See this big cluster? It’s three trees growing together, right?”

“Okay. Still not following.”

“Juicy kept an eye on me and my mom by staying close. Maybe it had to do with his mind going, that it was easier for him to have us there where he could see us.” Trev took a deep breath. “He told me that he helped clean up the mess from Federico.”

“The bodies,” Jupiter realized. “You think his dog walking route was where he buried the bodies?”

“Makes sense, right?” Trev preened. “Juicy probably walked his dog by there all the time to make sure nobody was getting wise to the sudden addition of three corpses fresh from Strassen Springs. Got stuck on the same route and even now, he can’t let it go.”

“Emil and Sal must suspect they’re there,” Jupiter said. “I don’t know how, but they must. Why else would they care so much about the park?”

“See, that’s what I was thinking too.” Trev paused. “Cold’s definitely suspicious. He was asking about it, so he has to know something is up with the park too. Maybe not that it’s potentially full of bodies, but whatever.” He paused again. “Okay, which… Why would anyone care about them?”

Jupiter sat down on the edge of the bed. “What do you mean?”

“Federico is already dead, so it’s not like the family is worried about him getting arrested for murder. And it sounds like everybody hated his guts or whatever. So.” Trev stared at the photograph as if it would spill more secrets. “Why do they care about the bodies being found now?”

“And how does it tie in with tomorrow’s lunch meeting?” Jupiter mused. “If at all.”

“Has Cold said anything to you about it?”

“No. You?”

“Yeah, that was the other item on his I’m a giant asshole agenda.” Trev shoved the photograph back into the folder. “He wants me to come with him on his little lunch date. After that, we can go.”

“Wait, wait. He wants you to go with him? To the place he’s supposed to be murdered?”

“Yeah, but he’s going, so?—”

Jupiter scowled. “No.”

“What?” Trev was so startled that he actually laughed. He scratched at his ear. “I must be hearing things because it sounded like you just tried to tell me no.”

“You heard me. No fuckin’ way, baby doll.”

“Uh, yes way.” Trev raised his brow. “If I do it, he’s going to let us go. We can finally get the fuck out of here.”

“It’s way too dangerous,” Jupiter argued. “I won’t allow it.”

Trev laughed again, his temper bubbling up slowly. “Wow, you’re adorable. Yes, it’s kind of hot when you get bossy while we’re fucking, but right now? Not so fucking much.”

“This is way too dangerous,” Jupiter insisted. “Emil and Sal are going to kill Boss Cold tomorrow if he shows up to the restaurant. You understand that, right? Cold is smart, but he’s not bulletproof.”

“As gross as it sounds to even say out loud, I have to trust that he knows what the fuck he’s doing,” Trev bit back. “He wouldn’t risk his own life. That much is fucking clear. So! It’s either this or leave you behind.”

“I’m unchained. We could go right now.”

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