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“Erin?”

Receiving no reply, he moved hastily through the riding ring to the gate that lead to the grooming area.

“Erin?” he called again.

When he didn’t get a response a second time he began to worry. Her office was at the end of the barn aisle, and marching forward, he reached the door and tried the handle. It was locked.

“What the fuck…?” he grunted.

The whole place felt empty, almost as if it had been evacuated. Snatching his phone from his pocket he sent her a text.

Where the fuck are you?

To his great relief he received an immediate reply.

I’m here. Sorry. I had a horse catch the back of his shoe and it was half on and half off. I had a helluva job removing the damn thing without ripping the sides of his feet.

Just hurry the fuck up

Yep, I’m on my way. Sorry.

Kenny didn’t like last minute hiccups.

Not having any drugs on him when the cop stopped him for speeding the night before had been a good omen. Erin having to mess with a horse and keep him waiting was not.

“I’m here,” she called, breaking into his thoughts.

Glancing down the aisle he saw her half walking, half running towards him.

“Where’s the shoe?” he asked as she stopped and unlocked the door.

“I left it outside the stall for the farrier. He may be able to straighten it out and put it back on. Come in.”

Ken had a keen sense of a person’s state of mind, and she was nervous.

“Erin, why are you so on edge?”

“Have you ever been on a horse that flipped out and caught the back of its front shoe and flipped out again?”

“I can’t say I have.”

“And when you finally manage to get it back in its stall, you have to somehow get the damn thing off,” she continued. “Trust me, it’s no fun.”

“Okay, I get it, but now it’s time for business. Where’s the money?” he demanded as she moved behind her desk.

“One-second. It’s in this—”

“Erin, you forgot to lock the door,” he barked, quickly turning the knob. “You have to get your shit together. In fact, I’m not sure continuing to work with you is a good idea. I’m thinking perhaps I should call this off and forget our arrangement.”

“No! I’m sorry. It’s just been a crazy morning. Please, Kenny, my clients are expecting their stuff this afternoon, and I just got two more people who will be regulars.”

“Then pay attention. If you don’t, it’s over. I mean it, Erin. You can’t forget something as basic as locking the fucking door.”

“You’re right, you’re absolutely right,” she exclaimed as she opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope. “It’s all there. Twenty-thousand in cash for one kilo of cocaine. That’s up five grand from last time. I thought you’d be pleased.”

“I would be, but I can be pleased and pissed off at the same time. I have to go. I’ll call you and we’ll have dinner. I have a new product. It’s called Synthetic Cannabinoid. If you have people who like weed they’ll love the stuff.”

“I do, thanks. I’ll see how many want it and let you know.”