Page 26 of Killer Moonshine

His cell phone rang, and he stared at the number, unsure of whether to answer or not. Then he realized it was local, and only those who did business with him knew to call that number.

“Hello?” he said gruffly.

“Having a rough day, Mr. Hugo?”

“Where the hell are you and where is that sweet little daughter of yours?” he asked Yaz. “You were supposed to bring my money to me. Today.”

“Well, I won’t be bringing any money to you, and you won’t be touching my daughter. She’s somewhere safe and sound. Somewhere that you won’t ever be able to get to. As for me. Come and find me if you dare.”

The call went dead, and Hugo screamed, shaking his fist in the air. Spittle was coming out of the sides of his mouth, and he could feel his blood pressure rising. He’d spent the last ten years of his life making connections that could help him. Connections in the alcohol sales industry, shipping, dispensing, and manufacturing on a mass scale. Then, of course, he’d made friends who enjoyed the same tastes as him. Young, firm, sweet women that you could force to comply with your wishes.

Yes, he’d found them, fostered the relationships, and he found ways to help them as well. Of course, he was also very good at convincing people that he was adding value to their lives even when he was not.

Fools. Fools everywhere.

Now, someone was attempting to make him look a fool. He’d suffered with people trying to make him look stupid his entire life. First it was his own parents telling him how disappointing he was, how he’d failed them once again. The last straw was his father telling him he couldn’t accomplish anything.

He’d proved him wrong when he accomplished the seemingly impossible. Killing his mother and father without anyone suspecting him at all. It wasn’t easy. It took almost an entire year of planning, but he’d done it and then joined the Merchant Marines.

Another horrible mistake. The work was back-breaking, nonstop, and horrible. He’d found a way out of that one as well. In fact, changing names and identities had been the easiest thing ever. Every time he became a new person, he smiled up at his father and whispered, ‘I told you so.’

Turning, he looked out the third-floor window at the Gulf beyond.

“No one will ever doubt me again.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

With the tech team trying to find the real Mr. Hugo, teams were sent out to find the other stills in the bayous. It wasn’t all that hard. Ask a few church ladies, knock on a few doors, check in with the locals, and even turn over a few rocks with wildlife and fisheries, law enforcement, and local hospitals.

“Gaspar, what’s up, brother?” smiled an older man, walking into the office.

“Vishon Moreau. I thought you were dead,” smirked Gaspar.

“Brother, there are days that I damn sure feel dead. Which reminds me. Why aren’t you dead? I’m eight years younger than you.”

“Good livin’, Vishon, and Mama’s good cookin’,” he said with a twang. “What can we do for you?”

“Well, y’all know I’m still workin’ with wildlife and fisheries, givin’ tickets to boys fishin’ in the wrong spots, killin’ too many gators out of season, all the usual.”

“We sure appreciate what you do, brother.”

“I know, and I appreciate what y’all do. Which is why I’m here. Ran across two stills this morning, and my sister said that your mama told the church ladies to call you if they saw anything.”

“Where are they?” asked Nine.

“Damn. You’re still alive? I’m really feeling like shit now,” he smirked. Nine just laughed. “One of ‘em is at Bayou Saint Francis. It’s way back in them swamps. They can’t be gettin’ more than fifteen or twenty regulars. It would be an easy one to shut down.”

“I’ll send Rafe and Baptiste.”

“They still annoyin’ you?” smirked Vishon.

“You know my brothers too well,” laughed Gaspar. “Where’s the other one?”

“That’s the thing. It’s just a few hundred feet from your property line.”

“What?” he frowned, standing from his chair. Nine looked at the man, Ian and Ghost standing as well.

“Yes, sir. You remember where that old shipwreck was? The one that was half outta the water all these years and finally got destroyed.”

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