“I’m going to change my locks,” Drew complained as he joined Molson in the kitchen. “It’s three in the morning.”
“Yup,” Molson agreed. It was early. He pulled out two mugs, setting them on the counter.
“I have work at six,” Drew hinted. “You think you might want to make coffee at Ma’s house?”
“Can’t,” Molson sighed as he leaned against the counter, listening to the steady dripping of the coffee. It smelled good. He’d forgotten how tired he was. Coffee would lift him out of his fatigue. “I needed to talk to you.”
“It couldn’t wait until I got up for work?” Drew rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up.
“Nope,” Molson looked down at his brother. They were so alike and so different in so many ways. “I can put David in jail and get Michael out.”
Drew stilled before looking at Molson in surprise. “They’re going to testify? These guys are really going to do it?”
“Yup,” Molson could hardly believe that he had managed it. “Tremblay is going to push the other five to testify along with himself.”
“Tremblay stepping into a courtroom,” Drew shook his head at the idea. “How am I supposed to get him immunity? I’ve been talking to Agent Kepler and while he’s interested, he’s reluctant.”
“Why won’t he do it?” Molson poured the coffee, giving Drew a mug as he took a seat at the table with him. “What does he want?”
“He wants more proof that Lawe is crooked,” Drew responded, grimacing at the taste of the too strong coffee. “Apparently he doesn’t like the guy much either.”
“What about the extra money?” Molson questioned. “The payments to his bank account that no one can explain?”
“Sterling’s source wasn’t able to confirm that the money comes from David,” Drew was regretful. “It’s all run through a bunch of offshore accounts. We can see Lawe got a payoff, but not from whom.”
“What else do we have on him?” Molson wanted to know.
“Nothing. I’m not sure what else,” Drew shrugged. “Kepler says if we can find something, he’ll reopen the case and give immunity to your gang buddies.”
“They ain’t my buddies,” Molson muttered.
“What do they want in return?” Drew asked as he shrewdly watched Molson. “Don’t tell me they’re doing it out of the kindness of their hearts.”
“I don’t know,” Molson said truthfully.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Drew scowled. “What’s the deal?”
Molson sighed. “Three are in it out of obligations. I don’t owe them anything. The others, Tremblay took care of it. He can make them show.”
“What does he want in return Molson?” Drew repeated his question sharply.
“I don’t know,” at Drew’s angry look, Molson elaborated. “A favor. I owe Tremblay a favor.”
Drew breathed in with a hiss. “That could be anything. Who knows what he’ll ask you to do.”
“I know,” Molson didn’t need the lecture. He knew it wasn’t good.
“It’s going to be illegal,” Drew growled. “It may even involve me or Jana. Maybe the rest of the Ramesly family.”
“I know,” Molson concentrated on the hard, bitter coffee. He hated it when Drew got on his high horse.
“What a brainless thing for you to do. You could end up in prison or dead,” Drew practically shouted at him, his voice was so angry and forceful.
“I know!” Molson yelled back. “You think I don’t know it? You think I just thought he was gonna ask me to go buy him some lollypops, write his homework or ask a girl out for him? This ain’t fifth grade. I know who Tremblay is and what he’s capable of.”
“He could ask you to kill someone,” Drew pointed out. “Are you ready to do that?”
“I gotta be,” Molson wasn’t ready for that. He desperately hoped he wouldn’t be told to hurt anyone. “If I don’t fill my end of the bargain he’ll come after you, Bethany, Jana, Miguel, the kids. I gotta do whatever he says when the time come.”
