Page 436 of Devil’s Disciples

“Define sizeable,” Baker said.

“Well, you and I both know what they report to the news media and the insurance isn’t exactly true.” He shrugged. “On the record, it was fifteen million.”

“Did he say where it came from?” Baker asked.

Crip chuckled. “No, but he said where it went.”

“Where’s that?” Baker asked.

Crip nodded toward the elevator. “Right here.”

My heart shot into my throat. I looked at Ally. Stone-faced and emotionless, she waited for Crip to continue.

Baker swallowed hard. He pressed the heels of his palms against his temples. “What’s prevented…” he stammered. “What’s keeping him from…”

“He’s not a typical cop,” Crip said. “I can speak from experience.”

He lowered his hands. “What’s he going to do?”

“Same thing he’s done with my club,” Crip responded. “From time to time, he might want a mess cleaned up. Told me to bring you the word that he wants to meet.”

“I scanned those boxes, Boss,” Tito said. He looked at Crip. “How’d he track the money?’

“Motion-activated GPS,” Crip replied. “They don’t activate until they’re moving.”

Tito’s shoulders slumped. “Son-of-a-bitch.”

“So,” Crip said. “How close was he at the fifteen million mark?”

“Off by roughly eight,” Baker lied.

Crip smirked. “You fuckers don’t play around, do you?”

“Taking ten grand or ten million will get you the same prison sentence,” Baker said. “Just as well take as much as a man can get.”

“Amen to that,” Crip said.

“So, he’s not going to come nosing around?” Baker asked.

“Speaking from experience? He might. But he won’t make a habit of it. He said, at least for now, he’ll talk to me, I’ll talk to you, and you’ll have a meeting,” Crip said. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll report what I find to Brother Reno. He’ll be the pivot point. No offense.”

Crip looked at Ally. “You squeamish?”

“Not the last time I checked.”

He shifted his gaze back to Baker. “Have no idea where this is headed, but to give you an idea, this cop has had us take out a drug dealer or two. We keep the proceeds taken in the process. He’s cleaning up the streets one MS-13 member at a time. It’s possible that’s where this meeting’s headed.”

Baker lifted his head. “That’s not our specialty.”

Crip smirked. “Might know a fella or two that could guide you through it, but it’ll cost you.”

“I think we can afford to pay for a little expertise,” Baker responded.

“Your expertise brought me up the elevator,” Crip said, turning away. “All you need is a few more able bodies.” He raised his right hand in mock wave as he sauntered toward the door. “I’ll be in touch.”

With those words, he got on the elevator.

“Holy shit,” I said. “Did that just happen?”