That has everyone shifting and paying close attention.
“Something isn’t right up at Lucky’s. Since we took over, nightly totals are down fifteen to twenty percent.”
Wolf leans his elbows on the table. “We had that company in and weigh all the liquor bottles. They ran three days over the weekend, and the company weighed them again. They said they were a little off due to overpours, but nothing was too far off.”
“That’s true. It’s been a month now, and we had the company come in and do it again this past weekend. We’re off,” Crash says.
Cole’s leather chair creaks as he leans forward. “I had Jake and Shane up there in plain clothes. Drinks weren’t being overpoured, and they didn’t catch anyone giving away drinks.”
“Maybe they were onto them,” Billy suggests.
Cole nods. “It’s possible. That’s why we need to get someone on the inside. Someone who can tell us what’s really going on, because apparently, they’re cleaning up their act whenever they think they’re being watched.”
“What do you propose?” Wolf asks.
“I don’t know. It’s got to be someone we can trust.”
Wolf shrugs. “I could ask Fiona to go up there one night.”
“I think it's got to be someone working there.”
“That leaves Fiona out. She’s got enough with the cupcake shop and the baby.”
“Gigi?” TJ offers.
Cole shakes his head. “I think it needs to be someone they can’t identify as an ol’ lady.”
“You think the employees know the ol’ ladies?” Shane asks.
“I think it’s possible one of them might.”
“The manager? You don’t trust him?” Red Dog asks.
“Possibly. He’s real hard to read.”
Rafe flexes his fist. “We could put the fear of God in him.”
“Let’s hold off on that until we’re sure. I don’t want to run off a perfectly good employee.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Kyle asks.
“Let me think on it a day or two.”
“Maybe you could send Jocelyn up there. Give her something else to think about besides getting herself killed by the mob.”
Cole rolls his eyes.
“How about Ginger?” I ask on the fly.
Cole’s laser gaze cuts to me. “Ginger?”
“Yeah. She’d tell us the truth.”
Cole arcs a brow. “This isn’t about that, is it?”
I sigh. “Okay, look, I admit it. I want to get her a new job. We could give her a waitress position at Lucky’s. It’ll give her something better than stripping.”
Green chuckles. “Better, how? She makes a hell of a lot more dancing at Sonny’s. Hell, I’d wager she makes three times as much as the entire wait staff at Lucky’s combined, moron.”
