Page 50 of Rocky Ride

He’s probably importing the precursor from Canada and making a fucking fortune.

Billy and the boys were sitting in a booth drinking a pitcher and Sunday had gone home straight from the station. She liked to do research and she liked to cook. Two things they knew about her—besides her skill with bears.

Before joining the boys in the booth, Travis sat at the bar and asked Jack what he knew about Dan Darkers and his family.

“They’re a mean shifty bunch and I heard they make their money importing from Canada and selling on this side of the border.”

“I’m not sure I want Harlan fooling around with Dan Darkers’ daughter,” said Travis. “He hasn’t taken her out yet, but I know he’s planning to.”

Jack frowned. “That’s a shitty idea, Travis. You’d better discourage that from happening if you think it might be in the works.”

“She’s working on cash at the market and Harlan has her number.”

Jack shook his head. “You’d better have a little talk to him before he makes any commitments.”

“Yeah, I’ll have to. Give me another pitcher and I’ll go join them. I’m not telling them where I’ve been.”

Travis carried more beer to the table and sat down with the boys.

“Hey, you’re here,” said Virge. “Where’d you go, Dad?”

“Had something to check out.”

“You rounding up new women?”

Travis laughed. “Definitely not. I’m leaving that in the hands of you boys from now on. I’m retired.”

Billy chuckled.

Chapter Eleven

Wednesday, October 23rd.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Before the boys came in from their barn chores, Travis asked Billy what he thought about raiding the Darkers’ property up near Sweetgrass.

“I took a run up there, Billy, and Darkers has his spot conveniently located within a few miles of the border. He can run back and forth with no trouble at all, getting the precursor.”

“Could be a meth lab or maybe he’s into opiates,” said Billy. “So far you’re only guessing. It could be a body shop or something perfectly legal.”

“Yep. I did lower my window to check for the stink of the meth cooking but didn’t notice any odor yesterday.”

“Okay. We’ve got to have the smell first to make goddamned sure we’re not going off half-cocked. We don’t want to blow up a body shop or a flower arranging studio and look like idiots.”

Travis smiled. “Surveillance first then.”

“Yep, to be sure it’s a lab and also to gauge how many men we’re going to be up against. We only have five unless you’re thinking of bringing in the feds.”

“Nope. Never considered that move.”

“I hope not,” said Billy.

“There were a lot of vehicles parked outside when I cruised by. I’ll talk to Harlan on the way to the station. He’ll have to help out if we decide to go ahead with the raid whether he’s liking Penny Darkers or not.”

During breakfast the raid wasn’t mentioned. Travis waited until they were ready to leave for work and asked Harlan to drive his truck to the station.

They piled into the big Ford and Harlan let it warm up for a couple of minutes before driving down the lane.

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