Page 69 of Keeping Collette

It was weird hearing Hound referred to as Porter, he’d always been Hound to them. It was no different than hearing his given name.

“As I said, I’m here to do business. I came across a couple of my regulars who told me they got some good stuff from you. I wanted to see if we could come to some arrangement. I’ve got a good system set up, and always need new stuff to entice people with.” Hound almost sounded bored, as if doing drug deals was an everyday occurrence for him.

“Yeah, I don’t think so.” Jim turned his back, but there was tension in the way he held himself, and Deal had his hand on the door lever, ready to spring out if necessary.

“Are you sure? Because I’ve heard that there’s a lot of other shit that goes on here, which I’m sure you’re getting a kickback from. Would be a shame if they were told that the police are about to come down here heavy because of all the people going missing from this particular spot. Not to mention all the dead bodies turning up.”

So far, the police still hadn’t put in the press their findings that a serial killer was working in the area, nor about the suspected trafficking, but Jim and Mal didn’t know that.

Jim whirled around, venom in his eyes.

“Deal, Jag you ready?” Angel spoke across the comms.

“Affirmative,” Jag responded.

“Let’s see how it plays out, but it looks like it won’t take much for it to go bad,” Fox said.

Deal wasn’t surprised with Fox’s theory, he was feeling the same.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Jim demanded. “There’s nothing happening here.”

“You may have been able to fool me when we were kids, but I’ve seen and done shit that you wouldn’t even dream of. I’ve made connections with people that could squash you like a gnat. Heat is coming, because the latest victim who went missing from here and turned up dead, is connected to some high-profile people who are demanding answers.”

“You’re talking bullshit. It would be all over the news,” Mal sputtered. “No way the fucking cops would keep quiet about shit like that.”

“Let’s just say a few well-placed bribes could make it all disappear, but only if you’re willing to go into business with me. I’ve spent the last six months watching you, Jim. You think you’re a big fish, but you’re not. Whereas, I am.” Hound was goading his brother and the way Jim’s eyes narrowed, it was working.

“You have no fucking idea about my business. I have connections too, and it wouldn’t be wise to push me,” Jim countered.

“Fuck, this is becoming a pissing contest, and we’re not finding anything out,” Deal grumbled.

“Hound’s got a plan, we just need to trust him,” Jag reassured him, and he hoped his friend was right.

“The name of my good friend, Viktor Koznovič, ring a bell with you?” Hound dropped it casually, as if he was talking about the weather, and the way Jim visibly paled and swallowed, was clear he recognized it as well. “You don’t need to say anything, I can see that you do.” Hound laughed humorously.

With that exchange, it gave them confirmation that Viktor, or someone associated with him, was working out of that location. The fucking Russian just wouldn’t go away, even though he was back in Russia.

The question was, did Jim work with Viktor or with one of the cartels. Either way, the trail to get answers got a bit hotter.

“What exactly do you want?” Jim finally said.

“Information. Times of drop-offs. Where they’re shipped? Why some of them end up the victim of a killer, instead of being shipped off. I’m not sure Viktor will like knowing that he paid for merchandise, only to be short changed.”

Jim held out a hand toward Mal. “Pen and paper.” The other man handed the items to him, and Hound’s brother rested against the counter and began to write.

Jag whistled low. “The guy fucking crumbled with the mention of Viktor’s name.”

“Seems a little too convenient, but I’ll take it.” Deal tapped the steering wheel, still worried that it was too easy. Jim had to know the consequences of giving up information on Viktor’s business. “Now let’s see if he can give us any information on Courtney’s killer.”

“Here,” Jim held out the paper. “There’s the details you wanted.”

They watched as Hound took it, and because of the placement of the camera, Deal was able to see some dates and times, but nothing that looked like the information they were after.

“I think something’s missing here,” Hound remarked mildly.

“That’s all I know. I don’t know about anyone who’s dead,” Jim retorted.

“Fuck,” grumbled Deal. “The one thing we really want, and he doesn’t know anything.”