Page 4 of Property of Bones

Things have changed since Riley moved in. Spike seems more relaxed, which I’m grateful for. It’s a full-time job keeping that man alive. Even more so when he has nothing to live for. Thankfully, he has a family now and doesn’t make stupid life-risking choices anymore.

“Josh isn’t our guy,” Foster says before I can find a seat.

“He was jittery as hell,” I say, falling into a chair. “Kept looking over his shoulder and couldn’t seem to focus on his job.”

“Still not our guy,” Foster shrugs.

“Heisselling,” Spike adds. “And we’ll have to fix that. But, he isn’t the one in charge.”

“Then who the hell is hiring these dealers to sell Fentanyl?”

“With the tracker in place,” Foster says. “I can track his dealing locations and maybe we’ll get some more answers.”

Three people have died in the last month from Fentanyl overdose. Any dealer in Palm Springs knows we don’t want that shit on our streets but someone decided to risk their lives and sell anyway.

We’d rather have no dealers, but there’s only so much we can control. However, we’ve made it pretty fucking clear to those who sell behind our backs that Fentanyl is too fucking dangerous and if we find out it’s being sold on our streets, we’ll bedealingwith the dealer, ourselves.

“It’s Billy,” Spike says, voice like stone. “I told my cousin I didn’t want that shit here and he was pissed. I’ll bet anything it’s him.”

“We’ve been staking out Marv’s Market, as well as several other businesses for a month now and I haven’t seen Billy,” I remind them. “If he is involved, he’s playing smart and using random dealers.”

The last person who landed in the hospital told the police that they didn’t see the dealer’s face, but that they did the deal at the back of Marv’s parking lot. Probably Josh.

Foster’s fingers drum against the table. “Well, whoever it is, they’re getting sloppy. With the police and hospital files I’ve borrowed, each victim that’s survived has given the location of their deal. It’s only a matter of time before facial description or even a name is given.”

“Borrowed?” Skip says, brows raised.

“Sooner or later, they’ll slip,” Spike says. “We wait. Watch. Catch them in the act.”

Patience isn’t exactly my strong suit. The longer this drags out, the more I find my thoughts drifting to things that don’t belong in a war room. Like the sound of Sunny’s laugh when she called meJack. Like the way her smile lights up even the worst aisle in that godforsaken store.

Spike’s eyes land on me. “Bones, I want you to keep watching Marv’s. Report anything strange. You’re not off the clock yet.”

I swallow the urge to argue. “Got it.”

“I had Foster run background on all of Marv’s employees,” Skip says, smirking. “Heard Sunny talking to you while you were there. Want to know more about her?”

“Not interested.”

“Oh, I love her,” Riley chimes in from the doorway. “Last week Abby and I talked to her for like an hour before her boss told her to get back to work. She’s so sweet.”

“And she always has thecutestoutfits,” Abby says, stepping in with Asher on her hip. “If I had her body, I’d wear them too. Curves in all the right places. I’d love to design something for her.”

She hands the baby off to Spike with a smile. “Anyway, here’s your son, bubby. Riley and I are going to paint my front door. Don’t want this little guy breathing in paint fumes.”

“You pick a color yet?” Tank asks.

“And don’t say pink,” Skip adds, visibly horrified.

“Light purple,” Riley laughs. “But we’re doing dark purple accents. Not sure what those accents are going to be, though. Maybe flowers. It’s going to looksopretty.”

“Then we’re painting Riley and Spike’s door the same way,” Abby says, already halfway out of the room. “But teal with purple accents. If any of you want your doors done, just let us know.”

As the girls disappear out the door, Skip leans back in his chair, eyeing me like a cat who’s spotted a mouse with a limp.

“Sooo,” he says, drawing the word out like he’s tasting it. “Did you think Sunny was pretty?”

I don’t answer. I just stare at the table like it’s gonna sprout a map to the best place to bury a body.

---