Chapter 19
Two weeks later, Petralooked up from weeding the flower beds, sat back on her heels and frowned.She pulled her phone from her back pocket and sent a text to Paul, who was out in the shop.By the time Paul joined her, she had rose from her position, dusted off her pants, and they both watched as the two motorcycles moved slowly down the driveway, followed by a pick-up truck.
“Who’s that?”Paul asked as he studied the new arrivals.
“No clue, that’s why I called you.Is it your guy?Gator?”
“No, he still has thirty days before he’s due to arrive.Shit,” he said as he got a look at one of the guys that removed his helmet.“Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that Flynn on the bike, and Kessler in the truck?”
“Shit, I think it is.What are they doing here?”
“No clue,” Paul said and remained beside Petra, letting them come to him.
“Rankin,” Kessler said as he climbed out of the truck, and walked over to him.He stuck his hand out and shook his head.“Did you know that you are out in West Bum Fuck Nowhere, Iowa?”
“Yep,” Paul laughed as they shook hands, then he shook Flynn’s.
“This is Special Agent Jerry Cassidy, from the Des Moines office.We thought it would be better to come out here with him to introduce you guys.”
They shook hands and the agent nodded.“You can call me Cass, that was my club name when I was undercover.”
“So you know what we’re trying to do here?”
“Yes, and I agree with it one hundred percent.When I was approached by my boss to take this assignment, I jumped at the chance.”He looked around, then back at the couple.“I’ve been behind the desk for too long.”
“Were you compromised?”
“Yes, out in Los Angeles.I was stuck here in Des Moines behind the desk to keep the heat off.”
“How long ago?”Petra asked.
“Too fucking long if you ask me, but it’s been two years.I’m not saying I’ll be breathing down your neck, but I’ll be your representative in Des Moines.Like you, Rankin, I’m both DEA and ATF.Unfortunately, the DEA office shut down a few years back, so it’s just us.”
“Do you have access to a lab?”
“We do.I was led to believe you have drugs and don’t know which kind?”
“Correct, let’s go into the shop.”Paul turned and waited until Petra was beside him, and he led the way to his shop.Inside, they waited for their eyes to adjust and he explained.“When the others start arriving, this will be a real motorcycle shop.This will give us an excuse to be together all the time.You know, to discuss cases and what not.Also, there’s room in the back for the guys to store their bikes in the winter.That is, if they don’t have a garage.”He snapped his fingers, looked at Petra, and at her nod, he turned to Kessler and Flynn.
“What?”Kessler asked.
“Did you do a background check on Laci Heller?”
“Yes, and she passed.”He looked at Cass to explain.“She’s the girlfriend of agent Victor Thorn, aka Gator.They should be here shortly, within the month.Unfortunately, she’s an exotic animal veterinarian, but I don’t know of any places around that she could work at.”
“There aren’t,” Petra said.“I’ve looked into it, however, I have a suggestion.”
