Page 102 of Building What's Meant to Be

Officer Henley’s code for a doughnut run comes to mind, but I can’t make sense of what this could mean.

I start to type a message back when a shadow crosses the side of my car. An identical Maybach pulls up, only it’s blood red.

Didn’t Tinsley say her father owns one? Perhaps he’s come to pick her up.

In sync, two tall, pale, and sharp-eyed men get out and stalk toward Sweethearts Bakery and Café.

My heart accelerates. I go from stationary to revving with adrenaline.

The Kraven brothers are in Butterbury.

Every muscle in my body coils, prepared to spring into action, but they haven’t done anything yet. Nothing that I can prove. And if they see me and make the connection, that’ll compromise the case.

They know I’m the reason they originally went to prison, not that it made much of a difference given it didn’t slow down the construction of their evil empire.

This is what Harrison must’ve meant by the rats leaving the nest. This confirms my sense that the case has become a rats’ nest

It can’t be a coincidence that the Kraven brothers came here the day after Harold Jerrold Pumanowksi paid a visit.

“Give me a reason to put you both away for the rest of your lives,” I hiss under my breath.

The two hawkish city slickers enter the Sweetheart Bakery & Café.

Something in me snaps.

They entered a no-fly zone. I cannot hold back and with bad intentions, I get out of the car.

But upon entering the bakery and as Tinsley welcomes them, I can’t reveal our connection. I just hope she’s mad enough at me to pretend I don’t exist.

The Kravens are the kinds of guys who’ll go after the family, friends, and loved ones of people who owe them something, including Stoll’s wife. Including Tinsley, if I don’t act fast.

I’ll just keep my head down and order a coffee like a normal customer...one with a pair of handcuffs, leaving me with a bit of a delicate situation.

One of them edges toward the little plywood half door that separates the area behind the counter from the rest of the bakery. They’re not messing around.

“What can I get you guys?” Tinsley asks brightly.

She ignores me, thank goodness. At least for now.

The other brother says, “Your number.”

Her cheeks blister and her expression crumbles like she’s uncomfortable. “Oh, um, I don’t give that out. I have a—”

All I have going for me right now is the element of surprise. These two idiots are too arrogant to watch their six. Likely, they have a thug or two outside, but at the moment, I have the upper hand.

I remove my sidearm and rack the slide so they know I’m not fooling around. “Hands up where I can see them.”

One obeys. The other starts to turn around.

I take a step back so I can keep them both in my sights.

“Miss, please leave the premises,” I say, hoping she goes out the back door and directly to the Starlight. Rhondy will know what to do. She always does.

The other Kraven brother lifts his hands. I don’t expect them to come easily and I have to buy time for Henley to get here with a second pair of cuffs.

“What’s this about?” the brother on the left asks.

“It’s about blackmail, kidnapping, extortion, and the illegal purchase of this town, among other things. The list is long, boys.”

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