Nhiari glanced at Dot. “Where is he?”
“In town. Should I call him?”
The reluctance on Nhiari’s face was clear. “I guess so.”
“He won’t come out to the Ridge,” Dot warned.
“Tell him I won’t go into town,” Lee suggested. “If he’s as bad as Nhiari suggests, he will want to see me and the treasure for himself and make his own assessment.”
Dot nodded. She made the call and though she didn’t have the phone on speaker, Rodney could be clearly heard.
“Where the hell are you?”
Dot rolled her eyes. “I’m out at Retribution Ridge. You’ll want to come out here.”
“We have a shit-tonne of paperwork to get through and you visited your friends.”
“It’s related to the case. I have a good idea how we can catch Lucas Fitton.”
“He’ll have left town by now.”
Dot glanced at Lee, and Lee shook his head. No, she shouldn’t tell Rodney that snippet of information. “I have what he wants.”
“And what is that? He doesn’t care about anyone. Both his kids were killed, and he didn’t break his stride.”
“Several million dollars in treasure,” Dot said.
A long silence. “What? How did you come in contact with treasure?”
“It’s a long story, which I don’t want to discuss over the phone. You need to come out to Retribution Ridge. I’ll send you directions.”
“I know where it is.” A pause. “Do you believe you’re in any position to make demands right now, Dot? The brass aren’t feeling friendly to you at the moment.”
“And whose fault is that?” Dot asked. “I didn’t have to bring you into this, but I’m doing you the courtesy. If you don’t want to be there when we catch Lucas Fitton, then don’t come.”
“We?”
“Nhiari and I. She turned up at the Ridge this morning.”
“Where the hell has she been?”
Lee stiffened at Rodney’s tone. Everything about it put Lee on edge. It was as if Nhiari hadn’t been doing her job properly.
“I can’t discuss it over the phone, Rodney,” Dot replied. “Are you coming or not?”
“I’ll be there in an hour.” He hung up.
Dot blew out a breath.
“He hasn’t changed,” Nhiari said.
“No, he hasn’t.”
Nhiari hugged the sergeant. “I’m sorry you had to deal with him on your own.”
“I’m glad you didn’t have to.”
Lee scowled. It would be a pleasure to bring Rodney down along with Lucas. He hated bullies.
