Page 157 of Things We Hide from the Light

“You’re talking about an organized crime war. You can’t raise an army without someone running their mouth. No one makes moves that quiet,” I said.

“Not necessarily,” Lina cut in. All eyes went to her. “All Duncan needs to do is sit tight until the feds move on his father. He doesn’t need an army for that. Just a few loyal soldiers to ease the organization through the transition of power.”

Fuck.

“Do the feds know about this?” I asked.

“According to my sources, they’ve been receiving anonymous information that’s helping build their case against Anthony Hugo,” Lucian said.

I didn’t want to think about how Lucian had sources in the FBI.

“That information could be coming directly from Duncan,” Lina pointed out.

“Fuck.” My brother combed a hand through his beard. “So he feeds the feds info on Daddy’s operation, and when they lock him up, Duncan steps into Daddy’s shoes?”

“That’s what it looks like.”

“Why wouldn’t the feds just move on both assholes?” Knox asked.

“Anthony Hugo has been running a criminal empire for decades. His son is small change by comparison,” Grim pointed out.

“He tried to kill my brother,” Knox barked.

“The feds cut deals all the time to get what they want. They’ve had a hard-on for Hugo Senior for years. They’re not gonna waste resources on a small-time car thief, especially not if he’s a valuable enough asset to them,” Grim said.

“So what the hell am I supposed to do with this information?” I demanded.

“You’re supposed to watch your fuckin’ back,” Grim said. “If Duncan Hugo decides he wants to step in as head of the family, all he has to do is clean up a few loose ends.”

Lina’s leg tensed under my grip.

“And those would be?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Grim looked at me. “You.” Then he shifted his gaze to my brother. “And your girls.”

Knox growled.

“Awful hard to build a case if none of the witnesses can talk,” Grim said ominously.

THIRTY-THREE

BOOK OR TREAT

Lina

Me: How’s my favorite researcher in the world?

Zelda: Leave me alone unless you have anything else on Burner Phone Guy.

Me: I take it you haven’t found him yet?

Zelda: Even my superpowers have limits. Without Hugo’s burner phone records or a name or at least a description, I’ve got a whole lot of jack bubkes.

Me: Define jack bubkes.

Zelda: I have a list of 1,217 people (856 of them are men) affiliated with this guy either through family, school, sports, or miscellaneous. That includes neighbors from every address I’ve found for him, neighborhood liquor store clerks, his father’s employees (both incarcerated and not), mail carriers, etc. Unless you have a way of narrowing it down, we’re shit out of luck.

Zelda: Any luck on getting your hands on the crime scene report? Maybe there’s something in there that’ll help.