Page 140 of The Fixer

When he returned to the bar, the chatter had grown louder, echoing around the high ceiling and empty dining room. Amid the din, someone shouted that Shane was at the front door. Charlie hopped up and let him in.

The deputy pulled off his hat, and Dixie cocked a painted brow. “Does this mean you’re off duty and can imbibe now, officer?” She held up a pint glass.

Shane grinned. “I am, and yes, I’d love one.”

Micky’s eyes widened. “Oh shit, areweoff duty? Are we allowed to drink?”

Dewey, who’d been lurking off to one side, muttered, “I sure hope so.”

With only so many deputies covering the county, Shane had convinced the sheriff to deputize Charlie and the other civilians present for tonight. Turned out Charlie’s construction sites weren’t the only ones targeted by the thieves, which gave the sheriff even more motivation. Only Charlie had been sabotaged, though. Even more of chin scratcher was that Dell’s hadn’t been struck at all. Probably because no one wanted the crap Carl Weatherly bought.

Noah scoffed. “Would that actuallystopyou from drinking, Mick?”

“Probably not.” He raised his mostly empty glass, and the group laughed.

Shane dropped his hat on the bar beside Charlie, and Charlie clapped him on the back. “Pull up a stool. You certainly earned it.”

“So did you.”

“Aw, shucks. You say the nicest things.” Charlie batted his eyelashes at the deputy. Fatigue had been sinking into his bones, but now it evaporated. He was a little giddy but also anxious for Shane’s news. “So. Learn anything new?”

“Yeah, a shit ton. Felix and his pals had a lot to say.”

“And?”

Everyone leaned in.

Shane glanced at Noah. “Can we use your office?”

“Yeah, sure.” He tossed Charlie the keys.

Charlie turned to the deputy as soon as he closed the door. “What’s up?”

“Felix is your guy all right. He confessed.”

“To everything?” Shane nodded. “The sabotage too?”

“Yep. All of it. Did you know he was here illegally?”

Charlie gaped at him. “No! He showed me his authorization. I wouldn’t have hired him otherwise.”

“Then his paperwork was forged. When he signed his confession, he also admitted he snuck into the country. I’m not at liberty to share much more, but Felix would really like to see you. He seems really broken up about what he did.”

Charlie threw out an arm. “Because he’s about to be deported!”

“Nah, I think it’s more than that. The guy was begging me to find you. Says he needs to explain himself to you. He was in tears, Charlie.”

Charlie’s jaw muscle ticked from grinding his back molars. “I’ll think about it.”

“I wouldn’t think too long. We’re holding him at the jail, but he’ll be transferred later this morning.” A few beats passed in silence. “I can take you there now.”

“All right. Guess I’d like to get a few things off my chest too.”

The county courthouse’s basement housed three holding cells behind a security door and an interview room, which was where Shane led Charlie. Charlie’s outrage had been burning like an out-of-control mountain wildfire but lost a bit of its heat when he entered the stark interview room and spotted Felix in an orange jumpsuit, his head bowed.

“I’ll be right outside.” Shane gestured toward a window set in the wall that Charlie assumed was a two-way mirror and closed and locked the door.

Felix raised his head as Charlie pulled out a metal chair, its feet scraping along the bare concrete floor. His eyes were red and swollen.

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