Page 59 of Under Fire

“That’s doable. I’ll contact the detective for permission to measure the display window. Got a friend who works at the glass company outside Otter Creek and owes me a favor. If the cops are finished processing the scene outside the shop, I’ll power wash the graffiti from the exterior tomorrow after work. I need access to the shop to replace the window Thursday night.”

“I’ll get in touch with Piper Reece, Delilah’s assistant, and let her know to expect a call from you.”

“Good enough. How soon will you return?”

“Don’t know yet. There are complications.”

A wry laugh came over the speaker. “Aren’t there always? Let me know if you need anything else. Later.”

Simon and Cade walked in from the balcony. “Everything set with Gator?” Cade asked.

“He’s on board.” He glanced at Simon. “Have Liam tell Piper that Gator will contact her tomorrow. He needs access to Wicks to replace the display window.”

“Will do.” A moment later, his teammate left to return to his and Liam’s room.

Standing at the French door, Cade said, “Anything else happen while I slept?”

“I researched Norris and the Randolphs. Found some interesting things in their backgrounds. Norris has a sealed juvie record.”

“You hack the file?”

“Tried, failed. I’ll ask Z to check it tomorrow. Norris had several domestic assault complaints swept under the rug.”

Cade turned, a frown on his face. “He beat his wife?”

“And his kids.”

“A real prince. Who covered up the assaults?”

“Police chief talked to the judge and convinced him to mandate an anger management class every time.”

“Nice.” His friend glanced over his shoulder. “Any more on Norris?”

“He’s cheating on his wife and girlfriend.”

A snort. “Figures.”

“He’s also a deacon in his church and a pillar of the Harmony community who champions the local pet shelter.”

“Regular chameleon.”

“Oh, yeah. The Randolphs aren’t much better. Ace did a nickel in the state pen for nearly killing a man who cheated him in a game of poker. He was eighteen at the time. He kept in touch with his lowlife cellmates after his release. He had minor skirmishes with the law although there are rumors he was involved with the drug trade. No one pinned anything on him but he never ran out of cash despite a lack of work.”

“And Cage?”

“Another prize. He was the guest of the state for three years for embezzling funds from the repair shop he worked for. When he was released, he found work with a lawn care business for a while. Despite the job paying minimum wage, Cage also had plenty of money at his disposal and he wasn’t shy about spreading cash around at the bars and with various women. After six months, he quit the lawn care business and never found other work.”

“Drug trade?”

Matt shrugged. “He’s the one who introduced his big brother to the easy money.”

“And the cops never figured out these two clowns were the source of the drug supply in town?”

“They’re Sebastian’s friends and his father ran interference for them. The Randolphs had a free pass in Harmony.”

Cade shook his head. “Ethan Blackhawk would have tossed them in jail and lost the key.”

Otter Creek’s police chief never turned a blind eye to crime, no matter who was guilty or who asked for favored treatment. Scrupulously honest, the Army Ranger honored his calling to uphold the law.

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