She took them between her fingers but didn’t look at them.
"Every door Slade opened he found something. But the biggest one was Courtney and her father’s money and how their names were buried six layers deep inside Sovereign Resources."
"We know all of that," Dove said.
Lach shuffled a few more papers around. "Sovereign Resources isn't just a mining company. They launder evidence. Physical evidence—documents, materials, things that need to disappear permanently. They do it for Courtney's clients, using the mining operation as cover. Bring things in as equipment or supplies. Process them in the shafts. Nothing comes out."
Trent didn't respond immediately. His thumb moved against the side of his glass. “Again, we’ve figured this out. We also know they want my land. What do you have that we don't?”
"When Parrish's dead man's cache surfaced, it filled in gaps Slade hadn’t been able to close on his own." Lach pushed the thicker file across the table. "The feds have kept most of it quiet, but Dutton and Courtney are running scared because Parrish helped them launder evidence. Helped them hide bodies. He was on their payroll.” He paused. "Which means, they know the net is closing."
"Panicked people do stupid things," Dove said.
"Dangerous things," Easton added.
Trent pushed off the counter and inched closer to the table. He tossed back a good gulp, before setting the glass down and lifting some of the papers off the table. “What are we missing that you’re not telling me?”
“The dead man’s cache is damaging to Courtney’s clients, but not to her. And certainly not to Dutton.” Lach rubbed the back of his neck. “But Slade, right before he was murdered, connected the dots. He told us he was about to collect all the proof he needed to nail Dutton and Courtney.”
“Are you sure?” Dove asked. “What is this proof, and where is it?” She reached for the file.
“It’s not in any of this.” Easton offered a weak smile. “We were in contact with Slade and told that he was going to meet with a source. He didn't give us details, just asked us to help with an asset. Unfortunately, we believe Slade was set up.”
"So, we're back to square one," Dove said.
"No." Lach shook his head. "The asset that Slade asked us to look after was the source. One that can tie things back to Jack's case."
“How?” Trent asked. “And is that the proof?”
“Slade separated it, but it's better if you hear everything from the person who can connect it back to the past,” Easton said.
Trent walked to the sink and braced both hands on the edge of it. Head down, staring at the drain. “I mean no disrespect but I'm struggling with all of this.” His voice had gone quiet and that was somehow worse than the flat version. "You show up at my home when everything is upside down, and I'm just supposed to believe this?"
"I'd question it, too." Lach stood. “You need to understand that as soon as Slade heard Sovereign Resources was headed to this town, he was willing to put his job, his freedom on the line to make this right.”
“What does that mean?” Fire rising in her belly, Dove flattened her hands on the table.
“Slade knew the past was about to repeat itself, and his source wasn’t about to let that happen,” Lach said. “They’ve been searching for answers to Jack’s case for twenty years. It haunted Slade. Consumed him. All he wanted was to bring down the people who’d silenced Jack.”
“When Sovereign Resources started filing for testing permits and asking for town hall meetings, that lit a bigger fire under Slade’s ass.” Easton pushed aside his glass. “But when Parrish's cache came to light, that added a ticking time bomb, and the clock is about to detonate.”
“You’re both still talking in circles, and it’s pissing me off,” Trent mumbled.
“Look, Slade isn’t innocent in some things from twenty years ago, but what he did, he did to protect Jack and his family,” Lach said.
“I’m about ready to toss you two out on your asses if you don’t start making sense.” Trent stared out the window.
"There's someone who wanted the chance to tell you part of this, themselves. Figured you had the right to hear it from them directly instead of reading it in a report or catching it on the morning news—and that’s gonna happen whether we want it to or not.” Easton stood and made his way across the room and stood next to Trent. "That person is outside. Near the dock. Waiting for you.”
The refrigerator hummed. Somewhere out in the moat, Dolly rolled through the water, her tail cutting a slow arc across the surface.
Dove watched Trent. The knuckles of his hands had gone white against the sink.
"This property is surrounded," she said to Lach. "Every entry point. My team has had eyes on you since you drove through the gate."
Easton turned and smiled. “We figured as much.”
“Smart move. Slade would be proud.” Lach picked up his glass. "Take Dove. Take half her team if you want. Point all the guns. Do what you have to do except shoot the man. All we ask is that you listen." He set the glass back down.
