The Cain Casey Series

“No drugs or prostitution?”

“Selling drugs in my organization or selling someone on the streets is a quick way to mount up some hospital bills or find yourself on a permanent vacation, if the infraction is serious enough. My family has just never been interested in drugs. Don’t get me wrong. Those who do traffic in all that stuff are making a ton of cash, but it’s no good for the kids who get sucked into that lifestyle. My business is slightly lower risk, but I have to deal with some who want to come in and undercut me. I’m thinking once I’m gone, they’ll start charging more than if they bought from regular vendors.”

Ross let out a low whistle and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. “That’s it?”

“What I just told you in less than five minutes is what Kyle’s been trying to get me to say on tape for the last eight years or more, Ross. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but trust me, to the feds it is. I’m not trying to whitewash my business. Your daughter lived with a criminal for all those years, but I don’t go around hurting innocent people, and I’m not a killer by nature.”

Ross thought about what Cain would do if she uncovered Carol’s and Emma’s part in Kyle’s trap. “Does that mean you can be driven to it?”

“That, my friend, is another conversation for another day. Why don’t we stick to the basics today and let it go at that?”

“I’d really like to know the answer now, if it’s all the same to you.”

“How about if I answer it this way? Kyle’s here. The car that just passed us proves that, but how he got here and who invited him isn’t my concern. My concern is spending time with my son because he asked me to come here, and with helping you out. Aside from that, I’m leaving in a few days, and it won’t be in handcuffs. And when I’m gone, you won’t have occasion to use your one good suit to attend any funerals.”

“How do you know I only own one good suit?”

“Call it a hunch.”

Ross laughed before turning serious and facing Cain. “You remember what you said about the walls having eyes and ears?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, Ross. I know what I’m doing. Can I ask you something?” He turned to look down the road to see if the sedan was coming back. “Why are you telling me all this? You have to know if Kyle finds out, he’ll slam you with an obstruction charge so fast you won’t have time to scratch your ass. I know your land is important to you, and you’re in serious jeopardy of letting him take it away from you as leverage.”

“Because that guy’s a slime. I don’t care if he’s got a badge or not. You may be considered the criminal here, but you have more honor than he’s ever thought of having. I just don’t want you to walk away from here and take Hayden with you and never come back. We’ve missed out on so much of his life because of stupidity, and I don’t want to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. I want to know my grandson and you.”

“Thanks for saying that, and don’t worry. Hayden and I’ll be back. Who knows? He might not want to go into the family business and prefer to be a farmer.”

“Sure, and the cows will be taking their afternoon flight around the barn when we get home. That boy idolizes you, and it doesn’t hurt that he looks just like you.”

“Of all the people in my life, I can say he’s made me happier than I ever deserved to be.”

Ross parked in front of the barn and turned the ignition off, trying to find the guts to ask the next question. The wanting to know overrode anything else he felt, so Ross just blurted it out. “Do you miss Emma at all?”

“Does it really matter? I mean, I’m not a woman who laments over anyone or anything I can’t have. I’m too old to wish for the things I really want, so now I just try and make do with what I have. It’s enough.” Cain reached up and patted him on the shoulder. “Thanks for the great afternoon. I enjoyed it. Come get me when the feed arrives and I’ll help you put it away.”

Ross didn’t push her any further and watched her head toward the bunkhouse. You’re good at avoiding answering direct questions when you want, I’ll give you that, but your answer tells me you might just miss my daughter. As for you, Emma, honey, I hope you make the most of this time. When he saw Carol waiting on the porch for him, he quit smiling. The frown she was sporting made him want to spend the rest of the afternoon with Cain.

“Let’s hope my good fortune holds and I live out the afternoon.” He spoke to the steering wheel, staying in the truck as long as he could.

Chapter Twelve

“Where’s Hayden?” Merrick and two of the guys were playing poker when Cain stepped back into the room, and by the size of the pile of money in front of the only female in the game, Merrick was making out like a bandit.

“He left to take another walk with Emma after lunch. Don’t worry, Mook went with him.”

“He been gone long?”

Merrick distributed the money back to the others, putting away what she had started with. It was risky to actually gamble with the amount of federal surveillance in the room. “They’re about fifteen minutes out if you want me to run and get him.”

“I want you to run all right, but with me. Just let me get changed.”

A short time later, Cain set their pace; the only sound that surrounded them was their running shoes hitting the blacktop highway in front of the farmhouse. They headed in the opposite direction of town, and Cain searched for the fence line for where Ross’s property ended, replaced by another of different design. She broke her silence as they crossed the last fence post, allowing her to keep her word to Ross about not doing business on his land.

“Did you hear from Bryce?”

“Not since the airport in New Orleans.” Merrick glanced around, hoping no one else was listening to the potentially dangerous conversation.