Where There's a Will by Rick Rothermel

Author:Rick Rothermel [Rothermel, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781685492342
Published: 2023-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

25

I met Mark and Annie Hawkins for dinner that evening, and we chatted for a few minutes about his cousin. I had figured there was no love lost between them despite Mark’s long employment under Wade, and I thought Mark might have an idea about a proper angle of attack. I also asked him if he knew of the potential whereabouts of the car involved in the Hawkins crash.

“It should’ve gone to the county impound lot after the crash. I know it was never brought back to the dealership. It would have been property of the insurance company until they settled the matter and/or their investigation is completed.”

“That makes sense.”

“I’ll call around tomorrow and see if I can find anything.”

“I appreciate that, Mark, but please be careful. You have to live in this town. I don’t. I know Wade has some serious connections, and I don’t want you to put yourself in an awkward situation locally. If there are toes to be stepped on, tell me where they are, and let me do the stepping. I can turn around and leave.”

He responded, “Gee, Street, you’re no fun at all.”

“Depends who you ask.”

“I’m surprised Wade’s not back already.”

“Can you show me where he lives? Where does he do business?”

He smiled and mocked shock with that question. “Wait, you expect me to be an accessory to your clandestine, extralegal, potentially criminal activities here on my home turf? You just warned me about stepping on the wrong toes.”

I caught on instantly and carried the ball. “I’ll let you hold the flashlight or something while I pick the locks.” I paused for a few seconds. “Seriously, Mark, I just want to see where he lives and where he does business. I don’t intend to burgle either place.”

“Oh, darn,” he said, deadpan. “Regardless, I’m in.”

“I knew that.”

Mark changed the subject. “You said you’ve looked at the accident scene.”

I answered, “I have no idea who is involved with whatever happened here. The crash that killed your cousins may have been as it has always been described, but I have my suspicions. If you can give me some pointers, tell me who to talk to, where to look for information, who might turn out to be an ally, it would be a great help to me. I have a budget, and I’ll pay you for your time.”

“That sounds good.”

“How is your relationship with Wade? Might running into him create difficulties for you or your family?”

“Nah. Hell, Street, Annie has as much pull in Fairwater as Wade has, and I’m sure that, at least lately, people here like us a lot better than they do him. We didn’t kill a couple hundred jobs for no reason. We can certainly point you in the right direction. Are you packin’ heat?”

“Not at the moment, travel restrictions being what they are, but I have a care package coming from a friend back home. Cop Glock and accouterments.”

“That’s a start. I have a basement gun room at home. I can loan you some of mine while you’re waiting.

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