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something if you are that concerned about meeting with him. Or, is it that you’re concerned about me?”
    “That’s what I mean, Hollywood. You’re too damn smart. Okay, I’ll be straight, cut the trash talk. This is a big fucking deal. While Jeb Stuart Jones has always been a pain in the ass, he’s become significantly more dangerous. He threatens everything I believe in. And he’s not to be toyed with. In the last year he’s managed to connect with some very powerful, very dangerous people. While I can’t give you names, or solid proof, if the information my CI’s getting is as good as I think it is, we are getting damn close to tying him in with La Familia Muerte.
    “Damn, Nate! I had no idea. If you can prove that and actually take him down, hell, you won’t only be famous they’ll start building statues of you in town squares all over the damn country. Seriously, man. Jeb really is at that level?”
    “Sam, the only other person beside my confidential informant who has this information is Chief Roberts. Dan doesn’t even know it. I’m telling you because I know I can trust you with my life and with information this critical. And because you’ve worked with the crème de la crème of the shitworld and no one else on my force except the Chief and I have. I’m also working with a couple of top level undercover guys who are fronts with the DEA. So yeah, Sam. This is an important meeting today. Taking down Jeb Stuart Jones may just be the most significant case of either of our careers.”
    Sam shook his head. “I hate to minimize what you’re telling me with a bad joke, but hell, right here in ChicadiafuckingFalls?”
    Nate laughed. “Amazing, isn’t it? I say that after every big case I crack. I think I’m a fucking drama magnet. I can’t explain it. If it’s big and never, I mean never happens except in big cities like NYC or L.A., it nevertheless somehow ends up happening here. Right smack in the middle of my sleepy little Northern Minnesota college town.”
    “You know this, Nate. But it means more than I can say that you are willing to take me into your confidence. Hell, what can I say except thank you? And I promise I will be worthy of your trust.”
    “I know you will, Sam. You are one righteous guy.” He guffawed. “Christ, I’ll never forget when I first met you. I was mad as hell that the Chief was doing a favor for some big Los Angeles hotshot. Chief said he needed me to babysit the guy everyone had pegged to be the next LAPD Police Commissioner. Give the sorry fucker some experience in the real world, is how the Chief put it to me.”
    “As I recall, you described it somewhat more colorfully, Nate. You asked me why you had to be the one to show a nepotistic sycophant how the big dicks did it?”
    Nate groaned. “I really am an asshole aren’t I, Sam?”
    “Yeah, you are.”
    Nate’s eyes twinkled. “But you did me one better, dude. When I discovered you were 36 years old, and a highly educated black guy, I made the obvious assumption that you were ‘connected’ big time. When I asked which senator you were related to, you didn’t miss a beat. You said and I repeat, “No, Detective Stryker, my father is not a senator, neither are any of my uncles nor my grandfather. However, my father is the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.”
    Nate and Sam both laughed out loud at the memory.
    Nate was the first to speak.
    “I don’t want to embarrass you, Sam, but from that moment on, I respected you. Everything you’ve done since has impressed me more. Like I said, you are a righteous guy. I have a lot of acquaintances and a hell of a lot of admirers and more detractors, but I can count on one hand my true friends. And, Sam Carter, you are one of them.”
    Sam nodded. “That’s how it should be, Nate. Because I feel the same way about you.”
    They were silent for several moments then Nate moved to what was bothering him most.
    “But there’s something else gnawing at