The Bootlegger’s Legacy Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    “Hey, Ray, looking forward to retirement? Going fishing every day. Boy that sure is what I’d do. Hear the fishing is really good right now at Elephant Butte. Maybe you should move up to Truth or Consequences and enjoy the good life.” This burst of wisdom was directed at Ray by Max Johnson. Max owned several car washes in town and seemed to mostly do very little except empty the coin machines a couple of times a day. He was also very active in the county Republican Party. Ray had never really figured out where Max had come up with the money to build those car washes. Rumor had it that someone in his family had died and left him some substantial cash, but Max had never confirmed that as far as Ray knew.
    “Yeah, maybe that is what I should do alright Max. The biggest problem is that I always hated fishing. But living on the lake up at T or C might be just the way to go when I retire. Don’t you have a cabin or something in that area, Max?”
    “My family used to—dad sold that a long time ago. We used to use it some after he sold it, because the guy who bought it was never there. My dad had a deal where he could use it if he looked after it. But after my dad died we lost contact with the guy—I think he lived in Oklahoma somewhere.” What the hell was he doing chattering on like this to the Sheriff? Shut the fuck up you moron. Max’s eye started to twitch. Hell, it didn’t matter, the stupid Sheriff was never going to go up there anyway. “Gotta run. I can hear those quarters calling me now. See ya later, Ray.”
    Ray always figured Max was not the sharpest knife in the drawer, although he’d done okay for himself. He had a lot more money than Ray, that was for sure. He gave some thought to what Max had said. Living at the lake in an old run-down cabin actually sounded just fine to Ray. His needs were mostly on the Spartan side of things. Moving an hour away from Las Cruces and out of Dona Ana County might also simplify his remaining years.
    Later that same day Ray dropped by Owen’s Realty to see his old buddy Chuck, who’d been selling real estate in New Mexico for as long as Ray could remember. He’d made a fortune doing very little except acting as Jim Emerson’s realtor. Ray always thought the real talent Chuck had was sucking up to Jim to maintain those commissions over the years. All in all, Ray thought Chuck was an alright guy.
    “Afternoon Chuck, what the hell’s going on.”
    “How the hell would I know Ray? All I do is sit at this desk and talk on the phone. There are days when the whole town could sink into a black pit and if it didn’t affect my office or the phone lines, I wouldn’t even know. If it wasn’t such easy money, I’d give it up.”
    “Well, you could always become Mayor and go around kissing ass for nothing. At least you’re paid well.”
    “Not sure I like that kissing ass remark—but shit, you’re right. If you’re going to have to be nice to all of these assholes, might as well make some bucks, right? What brings you to my playpen? Somebody accuse me of a crime?”
    “Not yet. I’m sure you know this is my last year as Sheriff, and I don’t really have a good idea of what I’m going to do next. A couple of things have come up and I wanted to run some stuff by you.”
    “I say use your authority and steal as much money as you can in the next few months, then head off to a Mexican beach with the prettiest, youngest senorita you can find—how’s that for advice?”
    “Sounds like that might fit someone else’s fantasy. My situation is a little less exciting. You know I have that big old house out by Hatch, and I was wondering what you thought I could get for it? Also I had a chat with Max at the Kiwanis meeting this morning and he suggested I should look at maybe buying something on the lake up in T or C—what do you think? ”
    “Okay, I’ll keep the senorita fantasy to myself. As far as your house in Hatch, I’d have to do some research. That area