Page 147 of Ozzie

McClure shakes his head. “There isn’t one. I wanted to make sure you were okay with the payment arrangements.”

John turns back to him. “Thank you. I appreciate that. But we’re all good.”

“All right. Let’s return to your parents.”

McClure leads the way, opening the door back to the main room.

“What business are you in?” McClure asks Tom.

Tom frowns but doesn’t respond.

“John says the money is to help your business. I’m curious what it is that you do.” McClure smiles.

Tom laughs. “I’m in commercial real estate. I promised to invest the money for John to help it grow over time.”

“Wow, that’s very kind of you. Commercial? Is that only buildings in cities? Or could that include land intended for business use?”

Tom crosses his arms. “Well, it depends. Land could fall under residential depending on the zoning.”

McClure nods. “But if the zoning were commercial, is that something you have experience with?”

Why is he asking him about his work? I’m growing impatient, wondering why they don’t arrest them all at this point.

Tom smiles. “Yes, I do. I did a lot of that type of work in Texas before we moved to Montana.”

“You left Texas for Montana? Why would you ever do that?” McClure says.

John and his mom shift in their seats, clearly wanting to leave, but Tom seems to enjoy someone showing interest in him and his work.

“Well, we didn’t want to give up the warm weather, but we had a situation down there, and we felt we had to leave.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” McClure stands up. “It was great meeting with you today. I should have the money wired to you by four this afternoon.”

John and his parents stand up. McClure walks to the door, and they follow.

“Oh, Mr. Williams, did you, by chance, ever work with a Todd Levy in Texas?”

“Wow, that’s a name I never thought I’d hear again. Yes, I did. How the heck do you know him?”

“He came up on a claim I’m handling, and I remembered he worked in real estate in Texas too. What are the odds?”

“Huh, yeah. Small world. Thanks again.”

The three walk through the door, and Faron takes his earpiece off. “They are being arrested right now.”

He leads the way, and we follow to the main room.

“Why were you asking him all those questions?” Durango asks.

McClure smiles. “Just connecting him to another case.”

I’m not surprised that they could be involved in other illegal activities. And I’d love for them to have even more charges to put them away longer. But Piper said John’sfamily moved when he was a teenager, so the only thing that will keep John behind bars is what he’s done to Piper. It should be enough.

“Any chance the other case would add charges to John?” I ask.

McClure shakes his head. “Not John. But hopefully, it will for his parents. Unless something goes really wrong, I’m expecting them to spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

Nothing can go really wrong. I won’t let it. Piper needs to be free of this family. I walk to the door.

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