Page 79 of Deadly Conflicts

“Please tell me the judge unsealed those files and you’re not going to jail.”

“He did unseal them and I would never leave you like that,” Mandy said. “I would make you go to jail with me.”

“As long as we’re together, I can live with that,” James said, running the new information through his head. “Hold on, baby. I’m going to put you on speakerphone.” James was silent for a moment and then the line came to life. “So Vince makes a bunch of money selling drugs and everyone working for him – and more importantly, everyone who he was working for – goes to jail and he gets away with what?”

“Probation and fines.”

“Were they big fines?”

“Um … yeah, huge,” Mandy said. “I’m not sure how he would be able to afford these on a car dealership salary. My guess is that he would need another influx of cash somewhere.”

“The big question is where,” James said. “Well, we have another little tidbit here. We tore the car completely apart and … .”

“Who tore the car apart?” Sven interjected.

“Fine. Sven and Rodrigo tore the car apart and found nothing missing,” James said. “Maverick, on the other hand, stuffed his face full of pancakes and found the car was missing a navigation chip. When he delved deeper he found that whatever chip was being stored in the car had been modified. We don’t know for what purpose.”

“I have a theory about that,” Mandy said.

“Of course you do,” James said. “That’s why you’re the love of my life.”

“We’re trying not to puke over here,” Grady said. “I just thought you should be reminded that you’re not alone.”

“I could never forget that with your big mouth on the premises,” James said. “Hit me with your theory, wife.”

“Vince was in a pickle,” Mandy said. “He needed money to pay his fines. Sure, he got off light compared to everyone else, but he knew he was in danger because the people he put away had friends. He had to come up with a lot of money, but I don’t think he was doing it to pay fines.”

“Go on.”

“I think Vince moved back home because he knew that it would be easier to operate in this area,” Mandy said. “Think about it. Our police departments are already over-taxed. They were watching him in California. They weren’t watching him here and he had a legitimate reason to return.”

“He said his mother was sick, right?”

“Yeah. He probably told the judge that he would keep sending in payments but move home to take care of his sick mother. You know, that whole turning over a new leaf thing.”

“I’m following you,” James said. “If he’s paying off his debts in California, what does that have to do with the car here?”

“The California police only have jurisdiction over his businesses there,” Mandy replied. “I looked it up. He told Ally he had like twenty dealerships in a bunch of states. That’s total crap. He has eight dealerships. Seven are in California.”

“And one is here,” James said, his mind clearing as he began to catch on to what his wife was laying out for him. “So Vince is using the money from his legitimate dealerships to keep paying off his fines, but the new one in Michigan is not under that umbrella.”

“I’m guessing that he doesn’t believe the cops will catch on to what he’s doing until it’s too late,” Mandy said. “He has ties to this area. Ally said that he never really talked about himself and told her he had a business meeting when he took off and never came back.

“He probably got into business with the California people and never wanted to return because it was big money,” she continued. “He only came back now because he was forced to. He chose Michigan because it wouldn’t alarm the judge in his case because this is where his mother lives.”

“I’m not sure I’m following,” MacIntosh said, making James realize Mandy had put him on speakerphone. “Even if he opened the dealership here the police would eventually catch up to him. They would demand their fair share of his profits.”

“Unless he’s running this dealership like he originally ran the ones in California,” James supplied.

“Oh, you think he’s running drugs out of Detroit,” MacIntosh surmised. “That would make sense.”

“It makes sense on multiple levels,” Mandy said. “He probably sold drugs here when he was dating Ally the first time. He moved to a bigger market, but I’m guessing he kept up ties here.”

“That’s probably why I hated him,” James said. “I always knew there was something off with that guy. I should’ve done a background check on him then.”

“It would’ve come up empty,” Mandy said. “He didn’t have a record before California. My guess is that he’s running drugs out of this new dealership and he’s socking a ton of money away. Instead of a long con he’s running a short one this time. He’s trying to put enough money together to get out of town. By the time the police in California realize what’s happening he’ll be gone … probably to a non-extradition country where he can live high on the hog for less money.”

“You are brilliant, my baby,” James said. “I just … good job. I’m going to kiss you silly later.”