Page 46 of Stone Cold Savage

“Considering I saw them pretty regularly before, I’d say yes.” Nash shrugged, then piled his plate with food. “I suppose they could just be laying low, waiting for the right time.”

“They knew enough about you to know you had the property to spare for their crop. That means they know the ranch. You don’t suppose they found out the crop was a bust and no longer exists, do you?” Rip asked. “Maybe they split?”

“I don’t know about that. Would they really just up and leave without a word or some kind of reimbursement for their investment?” Nash asked, then turned his attention and accusing tone toward Coy. “Seems to me, in that business, people don’t take too kindly to people getting in the way of their crops. That’s money out of their pocket either way –– for the plants and what they could produce.”

“Which is why I thought for sure they would be among those images and possibly behind what’s been going down around here,” Coy confirmed. “I’m starting to believe the two have nothing to do with one another.”

“I have to agree,” Kenzie said. “The men in those pictures have been around here for some time, and if they aren’t Nash’s friends…”

“Hey, those guys weren’t my friends.” He corrected.

“Right. I guess we really are calling them your business partners.” She rolled her eyes. “If the men in the images and Nash’s business partners aren’t the same, then I’d say we have two entirely different issues, and they may not be connected at all.”

Nash let out a deep sigh as if he’d been holding his breath for weeks, “Somehow, I find a little relief in that. The idea that my bad decision brought this on was weighing heavy on me.”

“Don’t get too excited, we haven’t confirmed that, just a theory,” Coy warned.

“But it’s looking that way, and that’s enough for me.”

“Fair enough.” Coy nodded.

“So, how do we move forward?” Kenzie asked. “The attack at the station, the intruder at Charlotte’s family ranch… this is very targeted, and it extends beyond your immediate family now.”

“I still don’t know that the man at my father’s ranch was there for me. Instead of looking around for me or lying in wait, he went to my dad’s den and tossed the place.” Charlotte shared. “Now, I’m no expert; this is obviously more your arena to operate in, but that feels more about my father than me.”

“You could be right, or when he didn’t find you, he was sending a message,” Coy said. “We have no real way of knowing. We also have to consider that your father has enemies, too.”

“Could whatever has your family in the crosshairs overlap with what my father would be targeted for –– if it is him they were after?” Charlotte asked.

“Good question. You sure you’re just a nurse?” Dillon chuckled.

“Happily, just a nurse. Growing up around this stuff, however, made me a bit of a thrill seeker. I also like true crime. I guess my hobby is just rearing its ugly little head.”

“It’s a refreshing perspective. Don’t stop.” Dillon said. “And though I don’t see how your father and whatever the hell is going on here are related, we really can’t rule it out.”

“Then that begs the question…” Kenzie went on. “Why me? Why the station? Was that an intended hit on Coy, and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, or is there something I need to worry about?”

“Another very good question.” Coy sat back in his chair, ran his hands through his hair in frustration, and gritted his teeth. “It seems every little bit of information that comes in, the further we get from answers and the bigger the pile of questions grows. Who the hell are these guys? We just need something. Anything.”

“Does anyone else find it odd that the people Nash was dealing with haven’t been seen?” Charlotte asked. “I don’t know why, but that’s sticking out to me. It seems that if they had business in the area, they wouldn’t be too far at any given time. If they are leasing land from Nash, you also have to assume that they are leasing land from others, too.”

“She has a good point,” Rip said. “Who sets up an operation like that and just disappears? That suggests two possible theories… One, they were pushed out or left willingly when they noticed shit going down around here. Or, two, they were never legit to begin with and part of a set-up.”

“Something more sinister,” Coy added. “What would that be setting any of us up for?”

“If I’m being honest, as sheriff, a few pot plants wouldn’t be something I spent a lot of resources on. I would confiscate them, have them destroyed, and slap you with a fine at best. We’d be more interested in who was behind the land lease and where else they’re possibly growing more than anything else. Try to prevent a ring from establishing if there is one.” Kenzie said.

“So, a distraction,” Devyn said.

Kenzie gave her a bewildered look, “Excuse me?”

“It’s a given that marijuana isn’t going to draw major consequences… not this day and age. So, like you said, your investigation, if any, would be a bigger-picture investigation. You’d spend resources searching for additional land leases around the surrounding area… likely collaborating with surrounding counties…”

“We would all be distracted by the investigation.” Kenzie agreed. “So, what is it they, whoever they are, want to distract us from?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, sheriff, and in this case, multi-million,” Devyn added.

“I think you’re right, Dev.” Coy pinched the bridge of his nose. “And maybe it’s to distract us. Suddenly, I’m wondering if Mama’s bank loan, the shell corps she has assets buried under, and the mysterious property we supposedly own somewhere has anything to do with that multi-million-dollar question.”

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