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Now, there s the really interesting thing. Among the cases the prosecutor was investigating was
one involving this sleazy politician. Bribery, misuse of funds, drug distribution connections, that sort
of thing.
Did he have evidence?
I think he might have. But the data in his computer was destroyed. And I mean destroyed. The hard
drive was shattered. All the paperwork on the case disappeared. Seems the prosecutor had hired a
temp to sub for his sick secretary just before he was killed and all the records went missing.
There would have been police reports, investigator s notes, Tank began.
I m coming to that. All vanished. It s just the word of the police officers and detectives. Know what
that s worth in court without a paper trail?
Damn!
Marquez s language was much more colorful, he said. Anyway, there s nothing that can connect
the politician to any of this. Except...
Except?
It seems he has an enforcer with expensive tastes. The enforcer, a man named Richard Martin, was
seen wearing a paisley shirt just like the one the prosecutor s wife gave him.
Don t tell me he was also wearing a watch that plays Joan Jett.
Bingo.
Now what s the bad news?
Same as before. No paper trail. Nobody who saw him could identify him except maybe you and
Hayes Carson and the feds. He d have to be nuts to go after the feds, by the way. Or maybe he thought
about importing some overseas talent for those. Oh, and Cash Grier s cute little secretary with the
photographic memory she saw him. They re still trying to tie in her father s attempted murder with
the poisoned would-be assassin.
Somebody had better be watching her back, just in case, Tank said grimly.
I know things about her father that I can t tell you, Rourke said.
The minister? Tank asked.
He wasn t always a minister. Leave it at that. Besides, she works for Cash Grier. I know career
criminals who d think three times before they even considered tangling with him. He may be a small-
town police chief now, but those old skills aren t rusty. He also has a network of, shall we say, off-the-
radar friends and associates. Some of them are reputedly wanted by a number of world governments.
Very interesting.
Isn t it, though? Rourke s voice became serious. Marquez said that the sleazy politician s
enforcer has a reputation for extreme violence, especially in tight corners. We can t let our guards
down for a moment.
Clara and Merissa have to come over to the house and stay with us, Tank said firmly.
I told them that. Merissa was willing at first. Now, she s not. She thinks they ll be all right at the
cabin. Clara says if Merissa wants to stay, so will she.
Don t even let them argue with you about it. Pick them up and carry them out to the car if you have
to.
It s a truck, but I take your meaning.
Get Merissa s computer and any sentimental items you can carry, as well. Just in case he has any
ideas about making a bad situation worse.
I ll do it right now.
Watch yourself.
I always do. Take your own advice. Talk to you later. He cut the connection.
* * *
TANK TOOK HIS brothers into the kitchen, turned on the mixer in spite of Mavie s exasperation, shooed
her out of the room and told them what had happened.
Things are getting very dangerous, Cane remarked.
Yes, they are, Mallory agreed. Carson set up his system to do facial recognition, and we
pinpointed a man today with a criminal record who ran when we tried to question him.
Tank felt the danger. I wouldn t have put you two in the middle of this, or the wives, or your son,
he told Mallory, for anything.
It s worth the danger if we can keep you alive, Cane said tightly.
It s Merissa I m most worried about, Tank confessed.
She s safe for now, though, Mallory told him. Rourke won t let anything happen to her or her
mother.
That s not all. Tank shoved his hands into his jean pockets. Something s got me worried.
What?
The trail he left in the snow, the one that led to the highway.
Old hunter s trick is to double back on a trail, Mallory mentioned.
If he was laying a false trail deliberately, he d make sure we saw it. So where do you think he s
been hiding?
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