“What happened?” Gina asked.
“Fuck. You said we have a deal?”
Gina’s voice oozed sympathy. “Of course. I’m not after you, honestly. You aren’t the real problem. You’re just trying to make ends meet in a tough economy. I want to go after the real criminals.”
“Hell, yeah, I’m not a criminal. I’m an independent thinker. You can see that, can’t you, sweetheart?” he cooed.
In Williams’ office, Gina snorted. On the recording, she said, “Of course I can. That’s why I’m here to help you. Tell me more,” she purred.
“So Brian came up short this week and gave me some lame-ass excuse. I told him to fuck off, I wanted my money or my product back. Next thing I know, one of my cars is stolen.”
“You think it was Brian getting revenge?”
Jerold’s voice paused again and Gina mouthed the wordlying. “I’m positive.”
“I’m confused though. He must not be working alone because he wasn’t the one who stole the car. That was two other men.”
Another pause, during which Gina indicated Jerold was lying again. “Sweetheart, he’s got friends among the old hippies around here. Probably a couple of them did it.”
“The video showed a couple of young-looking men.”
“Probably their grandkids then, how the fuck should I know?”
“Okay, I’m sure you’re right.” Gina’s recorded voice sounded placating, while Gina-in-person simply looked amused. “So, Brian is angry at you and steals a car. Tell me about the van. I have a source that says you were poking around the vans by yourself. Why did you sabotage it? To get back at him through his sister?”
Another long pause. Gina spoke to the others over the silence. “At this point, his eyes are shifting back and forth like he’s watching a tennis match. He’s obviously trying to figure out which story is going to do him less harm—admitting to sabotaging the van or passing it off on someone else.”
Jerold finally spoke again. “That wasn’t me. I didn’t sabotage the van.”
She hit pause. “This time, he’s actually telling the truth.”
“Then who? And why?” Kyle asked.
Gina gave him a thin-lipped smile and hit play.
“So are you telling me that Brian was behind the sabotage, too?”
“Positive. Who else would it be? That’s why I was checking the vans, to make sure they were okay. But this asshole stopped me before I could check ‘em all.”
“You could’ve told someone your suspicions and the accident wouldn’t have happened.” Gina’s voice came through calmly.
“Myvan was fine, so fuck it.” He paused again while Gina said, “At this point, he’s just caught himself looking bad.”
Jerold’s voice picked back up. “But I probably could’ve prevented the accident if I hadn’t been interrupted. That’s on Brock Jones, not me.”
“Fucker,” Brock said.
“And the gun?” Gina’s voice continued. “You pulled a gun on Mr. Jones.”
“Are you stupid? That’s because he’s in on it too, can’t you tell? I had to get out of there.”
She stopped the recording. “He devolves from there, claiming that Brianna and Brock were keeping tabs on him for her brother. Oh, and so was Rachael. The man’s a pathological liar and trying to save his skin.”
“So who is he really protecting?” Kyle asked.
Brock interrupted. “Whoever is shaking down the dispensary.” All eyes turned to him and he repeated the fight he’d had with Brianna’s father. “You’re right, George. Brian is tied up with one of the gangs out of Denver. It’s just a matter of knowing which one.”
“Whoever it is, Glass is in with them too,” Gina said. “But he won’t give me a name and I’m not sure when I can get back in there. I was pulled out early as soon as he started in on his lying little tirade. Obviously, they were listening.”
