Page 103 of Ride the Lightning

“Oh, the lady who they suspect killed her three husbands,” Sawyer said. “That would be a good one.”

“I have an idea,” Felix said. “I was going to pitch this to you later, but why not now?”

“Go for it,” Rocky said.

“You guys all know who Cameron Spencer is, right?” Felix asked.

“The guy who owns like a dozen car dealerships in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida?” Royce asked.

“That’s the one,” Felix said. “I have battled with his dealership for months over the extended warranty I purchased with my new car a few years ago. When my transmission blew, I didn’t fret about it because I bought the added coverage. I keep getting the runaround about why the bumper-to-bumper warranty won’t pay for the new transmission I need.”

“That’s why you’re driving your shaggin’ wagon around so much,” Rocky said.

Felix rolled his eyes. “Woody Wagon.”

Rocky snorted. “Same difference, even though I don’t know how you pick up so many dudes in that old thing.”

“The guys are more concerned about the driver’s skills than what he’s driving,” Felix told him.

“Touché.”

“Anyway,” Felix said, “the dealership told me I didn’t properly maintain the car, which nullified the warranty. After I provided receipts and service records from their dealership, they still balked. I’ve talked to everyone in their organization from my original salesman to the service department manager and even the general manager. All I get is bullshit excuses. I tried speaking to Cameron Spencer, but, apparently, he only shows up when it’s time for publicity stunts or to shoot commercials.”

“Ugh. I can’t stand Spencer’s commercials,” Royce grumbled. “They’re like nails on a chalkboard.”

“Worse,” Avery said.

Royce raised a beer to salute him.

“I started searching the internet for others who had similar problems,” Felix said. “I found several instances where customers had issues with both their extended warranties and gap insurance policies. I think something fishy is going on. The kicker is a lady called me yesterday and said she’d taken proof to Jude Arrow—”

“The Straight Shooter,” Royce said, mimicking the news reporter’s voice. Everyone laughed except Felix. He winced. “Sorry, man.”

“This woman said she has proof that the gap insurance policies and extended warranties were issued by Spencer’s shell companies,” Felix said.

“Isn’t that money laundering?” Rocky asked. “That’s a serious accusation.”

Felix nodded. “It is, which is why Jude Arrow refused to get involved.”

“Maybe this woman’s evidence isn’t as strong as she claimed,” Jonah said.

“Possibly,” Felix agreed. “Or, Jude Arrow doesn’t want to get involved for another reason. Maybe if he starts exposing powerful people, they’ll do the same to him.”

“Here we go again,” Rocky said. “If you really think Arrow has a big bad skeleton in his closet, let me look into the reasons why he left Atlanta for Savannah.”

“It will be more fun to torment the truth out of him after I show him up. I owe him nothing less,” Felix said. “Listen, there is absolutely no dirt on Cameron Spencer anywhere, and we all know that’s a red flag.”

Sawyer nodded. “The man has always annoyed me. He’s too fucking perfect.”

“Mr. Perfect,” Felix said. “That would make an excellent title for his podcast episodes.”

“Let me get this straight,” Rocky said slowly. “You want to use our podcast to settle a personal vendetta with Jude Arrowandget your transmission replaced.”

“If the evidence shows Mr. Perfect is up to no good, then yes,” Felix said.

“I’m in,” Rocky and Jonah said at the same time.

“To Sinister in Savannah,” Felix said.