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Vinnie agreed to stay with Rebecca while Ronnie and I went back to the Mom & Pop store. He didn’t want Jack to meet with the kidnappers alone, and Jack didn’t trust Vinnie to go alone with the money.

We arrive in the area of the store, and I park a block away.

“I’ll go in alone,” I say.

“The hell you will,” Ronnie says. “Someone killed Roger to keep him quiet. I’ll bet it was Thundercloud. It seems he always knows what we’re doing and where we’re going.”

We go in the side door, guns drawn, and quietly take the stairs. Ronnie checks the other rooms, and I check the room where Duke said Vinnie had card games. Nothing has changed since I was there with Lucas. Vinnie has misled us.

“I can’t believe Vinnie would do something like this. He can’t be trusted. Everyone is lying to us.”

I say, “We need to know more about Vinnie and Lucas. Vinnie doesn’t trust Lucas but I don’t think Vinnie was telling us everything.”

“I have an idea,” Ronnie says, and makes a call. “Lieutenant Sitzman, please?” Ronnie says. “Yes. I’ll hold.”

“I hope Sitzman doesn’t spread it around that he’s checking on Lucas. Longbow and Captain Roberts are close friends with Lucas. The police station and jail are like a bucket full of holes. But if Lucas finds out, he can stuff it.”

Sitzman comes on the line.

“Lieutenant Sitzman, this is Ronnie Marsh.” She puts it on speaker.

“Miss Marsh. It is Miss, right?”

Best pick-up line ever. Right up there with “do you come here often” and “you must have fallen down from heaven because you look like an angel.”

She says, “Lieutenant, I need some help and I thought of you. Can you keep something confidential?”

“Sure. I was hoping you’d call. Better yet, maybe you can come by and we’ll discuss this over coffee. Or lunch.”

Ronnie’s tone turns serious. “Sounds nice but I have to ask a favor. Not even your bosses can know. I need to ask you something about Sergeant Lucas.”