Page 102 of Backwater Justice

Kathryn and Izzie made their way through the dimly lit building, deposited their suitcases in their cars, and met up with Pearl’s people on the south side of the building. They were two very brawny-looking men with canisters of incapacitating gas in their backpacks. They also had a couple of hand trucks and furnished Izzie and Kathryn with gas masks. Then they waited.

* * *

Oliver arrived at his parents’ house within fifteen minutes. Benjamin showed up right after him. Milton decided if he was going to drop a few bombshells, he’d rather do it with the backdrop of the mountains and valley. Besides, the fresh air would do him good. Once Patricia and the boys were seated on the patio, he went back into the study and summoned Annie, Myra, Christopher, and Chandler. Expressions of total confusion filled Oliver, Patricia, and Benjamin’s faces as he introduced them to the marshal and his trusty dog.

Chris ran the meeting. He checked his phone. “In approximately fifteen minutes, the Drug Enforcement Administration will be descending upon the properties located at Salem, Eugene, and Blair.”

Oliver jumped out of his seat and shrieked, “What? You can’t do that! Not without a warrant!”

“They have my permission,” Milton said sadly.

“But why?” Oliver was outraged.

“We have reason to believe that illegal drugs have been manufactured at those locations.”

“That’s outrageous.” Oliver kept up his fury. “What gives you the right?”

“As your father said, he gave us permission.”

“Dad? You did this?” Oliver was stupefied and horrified.

Benjamin looked on with disbelief and spoke softly. “Dad? What’s going on?”

“Like the marshal said. Illegal drugs.”

Oliver was pacing. He was cornered. But he could still deny everything and blame Dickie.

Marshal Gaines disabused him of that notion. “We know it’s you, Oliver.”

“But that ridiculous! Why would I do such a thing?”

“Money,” Annie added. “Your desperation spelled it out. You were either in debt with some unsavory people, or you had a serious drug or gambling problem. My guess was both. You got into business with the wrong people while you were indulging yourself in copious amounts of cocaine.”

“Again, ridiculous.” Oliver huffed.

Annie pulled out the handkerchief. “I think this may prove otherwise.”

“You can’t have that. It’s my property!” He tried to grab it from Annie’s hand, but Chandler got between them.

“You may want to back away,” Christopher suggested, and Oliver took his seat. Chris’s phone pinged. The raid was on. He read the message out loud: “They found the false panels and bulletproof doors.”

“But how?” Oliver was in a state of disbelief. Then he remembered Isabelle’s trip. “That woman! I knew she was up to something!”

Myra and Annie said nothing. Patricia went pale, paler than even before. Her hands were shaking, and she was beginning to sweat. “Are you alright, Mrs. Spangler?” Chris asked.

“I need . . . I need some aspirin.” She got up to leave.

“I’ll go with you,” Annie offered.

“I don’t need your help, thank you.” Patricia defiantly walked out of the room. Annie, equally defiant, followed her.

Patricia’s hands continued to shake as she opened one of the drawers in her walk-in closet. Annie stood outside and watched. “They got you hooked, too?” she said.

Patricia was startled. “What are you talking about?” She clutched the mock aspirin bottle to her chest.

Annie pried it out of her fingers. Patricia made a valiant attempt to recover it, but Annie was in much better shape and yanked the bottle out of her hands, sending Patricia tumbling backwards. Annie reached down and pulled her up. “Come on. There’s much more to this sordid story.” Patricia tried to resist, but again, Annie outmuscled her.

When they returned to the patio, Oliver was sitting with his head in his hands. Benjamin was still baffled. This was all surreal.

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