Page 85 of Among the Innocent

He covered his distaste carefully. “I don’t, but I know where you can get some.”

Scott’s eyes lit up. “You do? Well, all right. You got a car. Let’s go get it.”

He shook his head. “Not so fast. You can’t go there now. Someone will see. You have to wait until later.”

Hope vanished from Scott’s expression. “Oh, man, you’re full of it. You don’t know nothing.”

“I do, and there’s a lot of it. I can lend you the car but...” He lowered his voice. “You can’t tell anyone else about it.”

Scott didn’t hesitate. “I won’t. I just need something.”

He grabbed Scott’s arm and pulled him outside. “There’s plenty there, as I said. But you have to wait until ten. They’ll be sleeping.”

Scott vigorously nodded. “Sure. Who are they?”

“The Amish family that grows it.”

The junkie’s eyes widened. “Oh, man, now I know you’re lying. Those Amish don’t do pot.” Scott had enough brain cells still functioning to have doubts.

“They do.” He looked around as if making sure no one was listening. “At least these folks do. They aren’t really Amish. They’re pretending to be so no one snoops around.”

“Oh.” A knowing smile crept across Scott’s face. “Well, that’s different. Where are they?”

“Not so fast.” He wasn’t about to let this idiot ruin things for him. “When it’s time, I’ll give you the address.”

Scott’s empty expression turned ugly. “Hey, are you stringing me along?”

He smiled and patted Scott’s shoulder. “Would I do that to you, my friend?”

Scott eyed him for the longest time before smiling. “Nah, you wouldn’t.”

“That’s right.” So easy.

“What’s the plan?” Scott had taken the bait.

“Tonight, once I give you the address, you can take my car.”

“Wait, why aren’t you going?” Scott’s conspiracy-theory-addled mind wouldn’t let him trust completely. He’d need more coaxing.

“Because I have to make sure they’re sleeping. Once I’m certain, I’ll meet you at the barn. That’s where they keep the stuff. You’ll need this.” He handed Scott a knife much like the one he’d used to kill Beth and Eva.

“Why do I need a knife for weed?”

“You’ll have to dig it out of the hay bales. They hide it in there.”

Scott’s full attention bore into him before he nodded. “Makes sense. No one would think to look there.”

It was too easy. “Exactly.” He kept his amusement to himself and started back to the house.

“Hey, why are you always wearing gloves? It’s like a hundred degrees out.”

His hands clenched. The last thing he needed was a pothead ruining his plan. He slowly faced Scott. “I have a skin condition, okay?”

“Show me.” Scott’s curiosity overtook his fear.

“No. It’s contagious. I’d hate for you to get it.”

“You mean like leprosy or something?”

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