Page 109 of One In Vermillion

“Good to know,” she said and laughed, which I understood. I was pretty sure she had World Domination as her future career, not Burney cop IT.

I called Franco. I told him to meet me at the Blue Country Club in a couple of hours. Surprisingly, he said he was already in Burney. He did not sound happy. I told him to meet me in ten minutes. I texted Liz to let her know that the senator was also probably in Burney. All she had to do was ask a few questions and she’d find out where.

I headed to the country club. Franco was waiting for me when I got there, which was a small win by itself. His presence in the parking lot of the Blue Country Club let me know that at least he, if not the senator, was concerned enough about recent events in Burney to meet.

He got out of the ubiquitous black SUV. I sometimes wondered which came first: the movies with a convoy of the same type vehicle or government officials actually using them. Franco was similar in size to Jason. Solidly built and exuding no nonsense. He wore aviator sunglasses. I parked next to him and got out.

“Afternoon,” I said.

“I don’t like coming here,” Franco said, pleasant as always.

“But you came,” I said. “Why were you in Burney?”

“The senator spent the night,” Franco said.

“Why?”

“None of your fucking business.”

I remembered that she’d spent the night in the Victorian Airbnb near the river when she’d had her early morning meeting with O’Toole where she told him to fire George. I imagined Liz had already learned that from the Burney rumor mill.

“Was Cash with her?”

He ignored that and looked past me. “Really, Cooper. You need to stop driving around with a big teddy bear in your cargo bay. People might start talking.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“What does that have to do with the bear?”

I just stared at him.

“Get to the point,” Franco finally said.

“No Costco for Burney,” I said. “Turns out Liz Danger owns the old cardboard factory.”

“You mean Elizabeth Magnolia Blue?” Franco asked. “There’s an intriguing turn of events.”

“Regardless,” I said, “the senator’s plans have gone astray.”

“Not if we make Danger an offer she can’t refuse,” Franco said.

Everyone watches too many movies. Except in Franco’s case it was best to take it seriously. “Really?”

Franco gave a slight grin. “Nah. The senator doesn’t care about a damn Costco. That was Cash’s deal. We just steered him in the most profitable direction. If he crashed it, that’s his fault.”

“I told you Cash also had a deal with the Iron Wolves,” I said. “That’s over.”

“We read the papers,” Franco said. “No mention of Cash, no proof he was involved, no tears have been shed.”

“‘Proof’?” I turned and reached in the open passenger window of the Gladiator and took out Thacker’s computer and cell phone. “How about this?”

“And that is?”

“Thacker’s laptop. The one that Mickey Pitts was paid to get.”

Franco didn’t react. “And? Why should we care?”

“Someone was so worried about what was on this, they paid Mickey Pitts fifty grand to get it. And, perhaps as part of the deal, to kill Thacker.”

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