“I’ll send a couple of the guys to pay a discreet visit to the suppliers our shopkeeps are being forced to use. I don’t mind a little friendly competition, but I’m not going to tolerate anyone trying to squeeze blood from these folks just because they choose to do business with me. The guys can pick one supplier and make enough of an impression that the rest of them should back down.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Muriel finished taking notes. “This did bring more heat than I thought.”
“I expected it, but Annabel has to either produce something or ease off eventually. We’re going to win when it comes to this waiting game. All that matters is that our debts are paid,” Cain said, meaning the Bracatos.
Muriel nodded. “Uncle Dalton would be proud.”
“Hopefully, but I still have some atoning to do.” Cain stood and escorted Muriel to the door. “Remember to do what’s best for you, and I’ll accept your decision. If it’s Shelby, I love you enough to dance at your wedding.”
*
Merrick was waiting outside the door. She had been guarding Emma, whose day usually wasn’t as exciting as Cain’s and didn’t require much “muscle.” However, Cain knew Merrick hadn’t forgotten her dark side, and Cain planned to indulge it soon.
“Give me some good news, Merrick,” she said, dropping back into her chair.
“Your pal Barney Kyle’s attorney managed to schedule a court date to get most of the charges against him dropped. But his row got harder to hoe after a recent FBI investigation. They discovered evidence of his fat bank accounts and haven’t allowed him bail.”
“Is he going to attend this procedure in person?”
Merrick took the seat Muriel had vacated and crossed her legs. “The federal prosecutor’s office wants to use a video link, but Barney wants to go. That’s the story they’re putting out.”
Cain cocked her head back and laughed. “When you say it like that I have to guess there’s an unofficial story.”
“You remember Shakes Curole?”
“Don’t you mean bad-luck Curole? He’s the only guy I know who has worse luck at the track and the tables than our old friend Blue. What about him?”
“His son works at the Federal Building in the jail ward as a guard. Since they don’t hold a lot of people down there, the kid’s got plenty of time to keep an eye on Kyle.” Merrick took a roll of mints out of her pocket, peeled the foil off the end, and laughed when Cain knocked on the desk to get her talking again. “More importantly, he’s been able to keep an eye on Kyle’s visitors.”
“Who are?” Cain asked, trying to get Merrick to step up the pace.
“Agents who have offices in the Hoover Building, along with the federal prosecuting team assigned to the case.”
Cain slammed her hand down and everything sitting on the desk rattled. “The guys trying to put him away are on his visitors’ log? The bastards are going to cut a deal with this scumbag?”
“Shakes’s kid said, from the size of Kyle’s smile these days, they’re willing to not just cut a deal. They’re going to cut him loose.”
“How reliable is this guy?”
Merrick shrugged. “Hard to say, but he
“What’d he want?”
The deep breath Merrick had to take made Cain figure she wasn’t going to like the answer. “Shakes is into Ramon for ten grand.”
“Tell me you didn’t give that idiot ten large of my money?” Cain pinched the bridge of her nose. “Well?” she asked when Merrick didn’t answer quick enough again.
“I paid the debt,” she said succinctly, then stopped. When Cain only stared at her, she finished. “He came to me and volunteered it in exchange for Shakes’s debt. I believed him because I figure he knows not only Kyle’s upcoming schedule, but what’ll happen to him if he lied.”
“Anything else?”
“Kyle might not have a court date with the feds, but there’s still the matter of the state charges against him. He’ll have to keep that court date until the feds talk the DA’s office into playing along.”
“When is this happening?”
“Tomorrow morning at nine.”
Cain locked eyes with her and it had nothing to do with a power play. “Then I expect you there before nine. Is that good for you?”
The question made Merrick exhale as if she was exasperated. “You asked me that why?”
“Because I just finished talking about how my business is shit, and because you’re getting used to making big decisions without me. This has to get done, but it has to be done without a glitch.”
“It
Cain walked around the desk, stood behind Merrick, and rested her hands on her shoulders. “Actually, I want you for this. It’s the reason I sent Katlin to Biloxi. I love Katlin, but between us, she isn’t at your level yet. I might not have explained this to you before, but that’s why you’re with Emma.”
“Nothing’s going to go wrong, but I want you to reconsider visiting Barney later today.” Merrick put both feet on the ground and turned around. “Why turn up the heat if you don’t have to?”
“My father always said that sometimes the safest place is in the middle of the fire. It burns off all the shit that
