Page 32 of Signs and Wonders

“That’s way too dangerous,” Seth protested.

Evan rolled his eyes. “I’ll wear a wire. You can hear everything. Travis and Brent could be on the outside in case I need help. I won’t go anywhere else with anyone. But we might get an idea of how they get people suckered in.”

The tic in Seth’s jaw gave Evan an idea of how little his partner liked the idea. “And you don’t think it’s convenient that the meeting is happening now, once we’re in town? It’s a trap.”

Evan shrugged. “Maybe. But we’re going to have to go up to the lodge, and it would help to know more.”

“This isn’t just because you’re in town.” Tyler glanced at the poster. “Those have been up for months. I don’t know if anyone ever goes to the meetings, but they hold one every week.”

“Have you heard any gossip about them? Do you know someone who went?” Seth asked.

“More importantly—does anyone who went ever come back?” Evan put in.

“I don’t know,” Tyler admitted. “No one I’ve talked to ever said anything about going.”

They paused as Cameron served their food. “That guy on the third game machine keeps looking back this way,” he warned in a low tone. “Might be nothing, but it seems strange to me.”

Evan glanced over his shoulder, but the gambler had his back to them. “I’m watching him,” Tyler assured them. “I thought at first he was glancing at the TVs, but now I’m sure he’s keeping an eye on Cam.”

The burgers were better than Evan expected, maybe because people who came to bet also appreciated good food. For a weeknight, the bar had steady business. Not everyone came to gamble, but the poker tables filled up fast, and most of the folks there for a drink or a bite to eat stopped at the machines for a game or two. One of the players never moved, raising a flag to indicate that he wanted to order and eat where he was.

“He’s pretty hardcore,” Evan observed.

“That’s Bill.” Cameron refilled their sodas as he spoke. “His wife died six months ago and his dog passed away shortly afterward; the kids all live out of state, and he’s got bad arthritis. Bill plays low stakes all day, but he says it gets him out of the house, and he has a budget.”

Cameron’s shift ended at six. Tyler, Seth, and Evan waited to walk out with him. The man who had been looking in their direction was gone.

Evan spotted him having a smoke near the dumpsters behind the bar, along with a second man. They looked up when Evan and the others walked their direction, but when they saw Cameron surrounded by three bodyguards in security formation, they pretended to turn away and focus on their smokes.

“Do you know them?” Seth asked Cameron.

“The guy who was in the bar has been around for the last week or so. Haven’t seen the other one,” Cameron replied.

Seth and Evan made sure Cameron and Tyler were in their SUV with the doors locked before getting into the truck. They followed the CR-V from the lot and stayed right behind them until they reached Cameron’s house

“Better safe than sorry,” Seth said by way of apology as he and Evan followed the two men inside, staying long enough to check the protections and ensure that no one had tampered with the locks.

“I’ll pick you up first thing and head over to the bar,” Seth promised Cameron. “Maybe I’ll get lucky at poker again.”

They said goodnight and headed for the RV. Evan’s phone buzzed with a text.

“It’s Parker. He says he just emailed me info linking Lacey’s to a holding company of Swain’s. Parker thinks it’s money laundering,” Evan reported.

“I suspect Swain’s got his hooks into the whole town by now.” Seth was silent for a moment. “Are you sure you want to go to that meeting tomorrow?”

Evan picked up on his partner’s worry and loved him for it. But they both knew they came here with a job to do.

“I’ll be careful. I won’t take any chances or go off script. Won’t eat or drink anything they offer or be out of sight of the group. You’ll have the audio feed, and Travis can be backup. Maybe we’ll learn something that will give us an edge.”

“I love you. Don’t do anything stupid,” Seth grumbled.

“You’re cute when you’re brooding and protective.” Evan leaned in to steal a kiss. “It’ll be okay.”

Please, let it be okay.

6

SETH

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