Page 58 of Weston’s Treasure

“Okay. I take it that’s good news?”

“Far from good news. The Honorable Howard Sposato was the associate judge for the first district court before he became the chief judge for the district court of Maryland.”

“Oh, no.”

“Sposato also has strong ties to Avon Chapman, as in Sposato was Chapman’s attorney before his crooked ass took his seat on the bench.”

“Crooked?”

“McKenna found the money trail. They’re all fucked.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means Chapman paid your buddy Gary, but the money came from Sposato. It also means Jason Scott is fucked because he’s a dumbfuck who thinks he’s untouchable, therefore he uses his phone way too much. He made a call to Avon Chapman last night and he didn’t hide the fact he was pissed they lost the product from the Dora B. He bitched for twenty minutes how his guys were getting antsy, because no product means they got nothing to sell. If his soldiers got nothing to sell they’re not making money. Low-level scumbags have no loyalty, they’ll find another crew that will keep them supplied so the money’s not cut off.”

“So it’s over?” I asked even though I didn’t want to hear the answer.

Over could mean heartbreak.

“It’s over,” he confirmed and my heart sank. “You did good, Silver.”

“Thanks,” I muttered.

“You didn’t have to get involved. You could’ve kept your suspicions to yourself. You could’ve turned a blind eye. And after what happened on the Dora B you could’ve walked away. But you didn’t. You stayed the course, pushed through. And because of you, two very powerful men are gonna go down. You saved lives. So when I say you did good, Silver, I mean you did good.”

He was right, I could’ve ignored all of those things, but then I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. No way I’d be able to look in the mirror every day knowing I was a coward.

“See something—say something.”

Alec’s lips twitched before they tipped into a smile and I was momentarily mesmerized. I’d never seen the man smile. But when he did, it transformed his whole demeanor. He was handsome even when he scowled, but when his features softened and his eyes crinkled he didn’t look so scary, therefore he looked approachable and really good-looking.

“You should smile more.”

The words had barely left my mouth when his smile faded.

“How are you doing with everything?” Alec asked and I wished I kept my mouth shut. I had a feeling the DHS agent didn’t smile all that often—if ever.

“Great. As you said, two powerful drug dealers disguised as upstanding citizens will be—”

“I’m talking about your dad,” he cut me off.

“Oh.” My eyes slid to the wall behind Alec. “Well…”

I had no idea what to say and I wasn’t sure how I felt. Sure, I’d told my dad to leave and I’d said some pretty shitty things to him. but he was my dad—shouldn’t he have at least stuck around to try to talk to me again? But he didn’t. He gave up and went home. That hurt. I couldn’t imagine giving up on my child, especially after an outburst like I had. Wouldn’t he want to try to get to the bottom of my verbal attack? Find out what was eating at me that I would say such awful things?

“Not my business, but the way I see it, you had a lot of shit built up. The problem with burying shit is when the cork pops, it boils over. And what fizzes out is never pretty. Now it’s out in the open and you and your dad can start repairing the hurt.”

“Not sure he’ll be receptive to repairing anything. He took off.”

“Don’t have kids, which means I’m not a father, but I suspect he needs a minute to lick his wounds. He knows now he did you wrong, and that has to kill. Give it some time.”

“I behaved like my mother this morning. I was nasty and bitchy. Worse, I did it on purpose.”

“You need to give that to Weston, let him help you dig that load of shit out before it festers.”

Weston. Right. I’d already piled enough of my psychosis on him. He didn’t need anymore of my crazy.

“Like you said, this is over. I’m no longer in danger—”