Page 120 of Trouble Comes in Threes

Scott hesitated, then nodded. “Derby owns the place. It’s kind of an on-the-down-low-bar kind of place.”

“Why doesn’t he have a legit bar?”

“He’s got some felonies and can’t get a liquor license. Besides, with all the other stuff goin’ on…”

Did Dermot know about this place? “Do you think Derby killed Harvey and Noah?”

He pushed out a long breath. “I don’t know. I think Derby’s capable of killin’ someone, but as long you stay on his good side, he won’t give you any trouble.”

“What would it take to get on Derby’s bad side?” I asked. “Maybe bringin’ in drugs from an outside source?”

Fear flashed through his eyes. “Yeah, he wouldn’t be too happy about that.”

“I heard there was a new guy there offering a new kind of drug.”

“Yep, and Derby kicked his ass out when he found out it was happenin’.”

“I also heard that Harvey and Noah were dealing for the new guy. If Derby found out, could he have killed them?”

When he looked like he didn’t want to answer. I asked, “Exactly how much money did you make off that fire?”

He swiped at his forehead. “He might have killed them.”

I nodded. “Do you know the new guy’s name?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t have nothing to do with the guy when he came in. He mostly hung out with Harvey, Noah, and Huey.”

“Do you know Huey’s last name?”

“Dempsey.”

Dempsey… “Is Huey also Hugo?” Could he be the third victim?

His eyes widened. “Yeah. How’d you know that?”

“Darlene told me about you and him.”

He looked less spooked. “Huey, Harvey, and me all went to school together, but they were bigger stoners than me. I’ve tried the hard stuff, but I don’t like how it makes me feel, so I stick to weed. But those other guys like the harder drugs.”

“And Derby supplied both,” I said, mulling it over in my head.

He wiped the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.”

I could see how Derby Sloan could be pissed if someone was moving into his territory. And Scott believed he was capable of murder. Could this case really be this easy to solve?

“How long ago did this new guy talk to Harvey, Huey, and Noah?”

“Maybe a month ago? Then last weekend, the three of them were talkin’ to everyone on the downlow about this new drug they were sellin’. Only no one was interested because no one else is stupid enough to cross Derby.”

“Except for Huey, Harvey, and Noah,” I said dryly.

“And two of them are dead.”

Possibly all three, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“Do you know where this new guy came from?”

“Rumor had it he was from Texas, but I don’t know for sure.”

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