Page 100 of Bourbon and Secrets

That crease between his eyebrows only deepens. “Do I want to know?—”

I shake my head.

He takes in a deep breath. “Alright, I’ll play. Following the rules is what keeps a case airtight. But I’m assuming gaining access to warrants isn’t possible because maybe a judge or higher-ups might be too close to the situation?”Ding, ding, ding.He keeps talking without my answer. “Sources and witnesses would be the best option to build out a case like that.”

That’s what Cortez had been doing. It’s what puts Maggie at the center of whatever Finch and King are up to.

I nod and grasp his shoulder as I move past. “Thanks.”

Grant calls out just as I reach the door, “If there was a public outcry.”

I turn back to listen.

He looks down for a minute weighing his words before he says, “If there was enough social media attention or if the person of interest was mentioned in the news being in anyway associated with that crime, it could push things forward. It’shard to ignore a situation, when it’s staring you in the face. Building pressure could be an option.”

That’swhat I needed to hear. I knock my fingers along the door frame and nod. “Thanks.” He gives me a tight-lipped nod and adds, “Careful here.”

I don’t add anything else even though a part of me wants to. When I make my way down to the stables, Griz and Maggie are leaning over the stall to one of the foals that was born late last autumn. I overhear Griz tell her, “Making this right is not going to bring her back. Whatever you’re doing, it needs to stop before someone gets hurt.”

“He’s got good advice most of the time,” I say, pulling their attention. “Griz, you mind if I talk to Maggie?”

He gives her a kiss on the side of her head, and then wraps his hand on my shoulder as he leaves. “Go easy, yeah?”

I don’t know how Griz knows some of the shit he does sometimes. Maybe it’s my body language or how I’m glaring at someone who is kicking up a lot of dust and I’m worried it’s going to hit the people I’m supposed to protect.

As soon as Griz is out of earshot, I’m saying what I need to, my tone one of warning. “I know you’re playing in some deep water. Don’t bullshit me here, Maggie. What are you doing with Finch & King?”

She hums a laugh. “Why do you care, Linc? I’m still doing what you and Ace hired me to do. I just sold out most of what you guys have on reserve. Your bourbon is in some serious circulation, and you have the profit to prove it.”

“I’m aware, and we both know it’s got nothing to do with that.”

“Faye?” she asks as she passes the horse a carrot.

“If anything happens to you, she gets hurt. If you end up on the wrong side of whatever it is you’re planning, then shebecomes leverage. I become leverage. My family. My girls. And I won’t let that happen.”

“Linc,” she says, resting her head on her folded arms along the stable door. “She told you everything, didn’t she?”

I give her a nod. “She’s not going to just let this linger and hope for the best.” When I look at her pointedly, I can see in her eyes, she knows I’m right. She’s nervous, not that she’ll admit it.

Pulling out my phone, I filter through my contacts and make a call. “Hey, Murray.” I smile into the phone when he picks up on the second ring.

“Lincoln Foxx, I wondered when I might hear from you,” he says in an upbeat tone. “What did you think of the piece?”

Maggie watches me curiously as I say, “It was a great article. I wanted to personally thank you.”

“Nothing to thank me for,” he says kindly. “I visited a number of distilleries and not a single one left me feeling the way yours had after our interview. You do have something special there.”

I take the compliment. “I think so too.” I glance at Maggie, hoping this is going to go how I want it to. “Listen, Murray, there’s someone here who might be able to answer your questions about what’s happening in horse racing down here. Thought you might want to hear what she has to say.”

That’s got her attention, but not in a good way. Straightening, she’s shaking her head to shut me up.

Murray shuffles something in the background, likely a recorder or something to take down anything else I’m going to say. “Any chance you have a name for me so I can follow up?”

But I don’t give him much else. “I’m going to leave that in her court. Just wanted you to know I hadn’t forgotten you asked.”

We exchange a few more niceties before I hang up.

Maggie crosses her arms, nearly shouting, “What the fuck, Linc?”