Page 16 of Black Ice
“You mentioned they talked about money.”
“Her family business is in serious trouble,” Pickering stated. “Money trouble pushes people to take drastic measures.”
“She’s already doing that by dealing poker,” Wyatt said, dismissing that faulty logic. “Evelyn is not a fan of the casino system.”
“Because of your mother’s problems.”
“In part.” Because she was a good friend to him at one time and back then if something hurt one of them, it hurt them both. “For Evelyn the problem with casinos is that they’re indoor activities. That woman loves the fresh air and open sky. She feels caged inside and that feeling is exacerbated with schedules and requirements like clocking in and promoting an activity she doesn’t believe in.”
“So we should’ve put her into Cordell’s gang instead of you.”
Wyatt’s jaw clenched. “You make a good point. It’s possible Cordell is working up a plan B to prevent me from leading him into a trap.”
“It’s more likely she’s in on it. Be alert.”
He wouldn’t allow Pickering to make him smell smoke where there wasn’t any fire. “You’re wrong. She isn’t even in the casino and won’t be until after the storm blows through.”
Pickering leaned forward. “She is. After your chat, she left, apparently just long enough to get chains on her tires.”
He didn’t believe her. The FBI was pushing him into a corner for some unfathomable reason.
“Her car is in the employee lot,” Pickering continued. “They gave her a room so she can stay and work straight through the storm.”
“No.” This couldn’t be happening. He’d sent her out of Cordell’s reach. Wyatt didn’t want Evie anywhere close when the robbery went down.
“Denial never did anyone any favors,” Pickering said with a slow shake of her head.
“You’re wrong about her,” he insisted.
She cocked her head. “I like you, Wyatt. Your military service record speaks volumes, which means I trust you. Evelyn Cotton is your blind spot.”
He couldn’t argue that.
“People change,” Pickering continued. “They get in trouble and do rash things. Cordell baited the hook with money and she swallowed it.”
He had to admit something like that was possible. “I might have a blind spot,” he allowed, “but you’re a pessimist operating with a bias.”
The agent didn’t flinch or deny it. “Experience.” She held her hands wide.
“Why are you so sure you’re right about a woman you’ve never met?” Wyatt demanded. If Evie was here, she might need an ally in law enforcement before this was over. He had to show Pickering the truth about her character. “Evelyn has lived here all her life. She’s never had a speeding ticket as far as I know. You told me Cordell makes big grabs and leaves the area. Evelyn wants to stay in Deadwood. She always has.”
“Desperate people do desperate things. He calls himself an investor, she probably hasn’t bothered to figure out where the man gets his money, she just needs the cash. Happens all the time.”
Wyatt scrubbed at his whiskers. “You’re wrong. And when you figure it out, I hope you accept your mistake and do right by her.”
“Blind spot,” she muttered under her breath. “The two of you aren’t kids anymore. You have no idea what she’s capable of now.”
“And you do?” Wyatt was ready to toss Agent Pickering and her FBI pals and the big payday right out of his room. “Cordell is the problem,” he insisted. “Not Evelyn.”
“Aside from the money she needs, there’s the matter of a dead security guard they found downstairs an hour after she checked in.”
“This entire endeavor has turned into a nightmare.” The premise had been tricky enough to start with. He shoved away from the table. “I suppose you have Evelyn gamely smiling into a security camera near the scene. Naturally, you suspect her.”
“She was in the building and she knows the layout and placement of all the security measures. We are monitoring the situation while the local authorities work the case.”
She was pulling his chain to get a reaction. Fine. He could play that game, having learned from the best gamers in the military chain of command. “What details do you have?”
“We are monitoring the situation,” she repeated pointedly.
