Facing It Read Online Free PDF Page B

Mark Cook perused the black leather ledger. Cookie pursed his lips and blew out a long, low whistle. “This guy’s smart. Doing it the old fashioned way too. No computer records to trace.”
    “Yeah.” Tick rubbed a hand down his face, feeling the lack of sleep, reliving for a moment the shock of having his uncommunicative sister turn up on his doorstep at one in the morning. “And Ruthie’s right. He’d probably kill her over those.”
    “If not for leaving him.” Cookie tossed the ledger on Tick’s desk. “Wish you hadn’t told me, though.”
    Surprised, Tick quirked an eyebrow at him. He told the other man almost everything, did tell him everything in a professional sense. “Why?”
    “Because now I have to not tell Tori.”
    Tick grimaced at the mention of his other sister—and Cookie’s fiancé. Almost a year into the relationship, Tick was still getting accustomed to the fact that his partner was going to be his brother-in-law. It was good, though. The relationship seemed to be standing up to the test of time and stress, and even he had to admit the pair seemed good for one another, despite his initial misgivings.
    Cookie gestured at the book. “So what are you going to do with that?”
    Tick shrugged. “Still trying to decide. If Stephen is on the FBI’s radar at the Organized Crime Division, and from some of the names in there, I’d say that’s likely, then it’s equally likely someone may show up here.”
    A tap sounded at the door. Tick lifted the ledger and stowed it in his desk drawer. “It’s open.”
    Troy Lee, one of their younger deputies, stuck his head inside. “Hey, Tick, you’ve got visitors at the front desk. A pair of Feds.”
    “Show them to the conference room.” A grin pulled at his mouth and Tick gave Cookie a knowing look. “What did I tell you?”
    Cookie trailed him to the conference room with its makeshift, mismatched furniture. Two somber-suited men waited inside, their posture tight and stiff. Handshakes all around followed introductions as Agents Lewis and Freeman of the Tallahassee office tried to appear approachable. Tick waved them to sit. “What can I do for you gentlemen?”
    Freeman folded his hands atop the scarred wooden table. “We need to know if you’ve had recent contact with your sister Ruth Ann Chason.”
    “Why would I? She doesn’t stay in close communication with the family. Besides, why would the FBI be interested in my dealings with my sister?”
    The two agents exchanged a glance. “It’s possible she may have information relevant to an open case at the Organized Crime Division.”
    Tick feigned surprise. He leaned back, arms folded behind his head. “Really. An open OCD case. Care to share the details?”
    “You know we can’t do that.”
    “Then I’m afraid I really can’t help you.”
    Another terse look between the two Feds. Freeman pulled a card from his wallet. “Please call if she does contact you.”
    Tick and Cookie stood as the two agents exited the room. Tick leaned against the table and folded his arms over his chest. He sighed. “They gave up too easy and they didn’t try to work me. I’ll have a tail by the end of the day.”
    Cookie nodded. “Yeah.”
    “And next Stephen will show up.” His voice came out grim and tight. He was actually looking forward to that little interlude.
    With a frown, Cookie shrugged. “Why not just tell them what she has? Obviously, they’re interested in what he’s doing.”
    Tick slanted a look at him. “Because. I wasn’t a Fibbie for ten years for nothing. Those ledgers are Ruthie’s ace in the hole and I’m not ready to trump it yet. Besides, I only want to share those with someone I trust.”

    Three hours into the trip, they stopped in Waycross for food, a rest stop, and the clothing and supplies Ruthie would need for the children. Chris chose the relative anonymity of a large retail discount store where they could handle all those needs in one trip. Inside, Ruthie settled