Page 37 of Diamonds in the Mud

“We need a few details, you know, to make sure she’s not poking her nose where it doesn’t belong,” he’d said. “I’ll get you more details soon.”

From what I could tell, none of the Reapers had so much as looked in the mayor’s direction before. Sure, a bunch of them took issue with the mayor’s twin sons. The brawl that week hadn’t been the first between the groups. Nor, I’d wager, would it be the last, since the Reapers were already plotting their revenge.

Hearing a car drive up, I glanced out to see Rayne park her Jeep and shut it off. I watched the road to make sure she hadn’t been followed, then opened the door for her.

“How big of trouble are you in?” she asked, stepping inside.

“First things first,” I said, pulling her into my arms and covering her mouth with mine.

I’d missed the taste and feel of her next to me. I’d dreamed of nothing else but her since the moment I’d seen her across the bar.

“Now I feel steadier,” I said, pulling back a little.

“You do?” She chuckled. “I think my entire body is vibrating.” She smiled up at me.

I took her hand and led her into the living room.

“How bad is it?” she asked after we sat down.

“They want me to use you for information,” I blurted out, causing her to laugh. Then she sobered.

“Information on what?” she asked.

I tilted my head slightly.

“Oh shit.” She stood up and walked to the dark windows as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I had pretty much ruled out anyone in the Reapers for Sharon’s murder.” She turned back to me. “Now…” She shook her head.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “So what’s your game plan?”

“Mine?” She balked. “Shit.” She closed her eyes. “Shit,” she said again. She sat next to me again. “Who asked you to use me?”

“Felix.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“George Felix Woolf, age thirty-two. Six foot two, two hundred and fifteen pounds. Six convictions and four years behind bars. He was last released about two years ago,” she rattled off.

“Do you have a computer in that head of yours?” I asked, amazed at her recount of details.

She chuckled. “Eidetic memory.” She tapped her head. “It’s a curse in my personal life but a benefit to the job.”

I nodded. “Something tells me Ben was in on the request too. Felix doesn’t make a move without consulting him first.”

“Ben Blackwood. Do you know I once went out on a date with him in junior high?” She shook her head. “Dodged that bullet. He beat up his high school girlfriend on the night of prom when she glanced at another boy. That was the first time he spent time in jail. He has six more convictions and did time with Felix for a year or two.”

I nodded. I knew all there was about each member of the Reapers. Far more than any police report could tell anyone.

“In school, he used to brag about some of the crap he did. I’ve wanted to lock him up for years.” She leaned back. “If you’re here, DEA, that means drugs. Are we talking more than the shit that flows through every small town?” she asked, and I nodded. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Do you know anything about the attorney general’s investigation into Sharon Taylor?”

I guess my surprised look answered the question.

“For?” I asked.

Rayne shifted slightly.

The moment her leg brushed against mine, I wished we were there for anything other than work.

“Apparently, corruption and embezzling,” she answered.