Page 36 of Cam
“But from what Rod said, when he was in your bathroom last, the box was gone.”
“I took it to Cam’s.”
“I guess he put enough in to finally get your car to stall so he could confront you. You’d find the drugs… eventually,” Colt began. Meaning when I got my period I’d find the drugs in the box. “And figure it out.”
“He was already wanted for drugging an animal and hurting Pops,” Cam reminded.
“Possession would be added,” Colt replied. “It wasn’t just a cocktail to amp up a horse. He was dealing.”
“To people,” Cam added.
Colt nodded, then looked to me, eyebrow raised. “Like your father.”
My mouth dropped open. “Holy shit.That’swhy he’s been so crazy lately.”
“Probably. Your house is also a great place to hide.”
Rod had moved into my house with Dad to hidefrom the cops? The one place they wouldn’t look for him.
“Ilivedthere. How had I missed him?”
Colt shrugged. “He might not have been there all the time. Probably didn’t spend the night. I still have to ask him about that. Get your father to confirm.”
“You work a shit ton,” Cam said, reminding me I wasn’t at home all that much. In fact, I went out of my way to stay away for as long as possible. Still, it seemed strange I’d missed Rod.
“What about my dad?” I asked. “He’s… unpleasant because he’s so caught up in his grief for my mom that it’s destroyed his life. Mom wouldn’t have wanted him that way.” I shrugged. “I don’t think he’s in on this, even though he obviously made friends with Rod.”
“I’ll bring him in for questioning, but I agree,” Colt offered.
Dad had made this mess, a little at a time over the years. One sip, one bottle of beer or vodka, one day at a time. He had to choose to get better and until then, I was done.
“Think the Trout boys are in on it?” Cam asked.
“He hasn’t rolled on them yet, but if he’d been working there for most of the summer, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
“He’s not even from here,” I reminded.
“Exactly. My guess is the Trout boys are the true masterminds behind this. Got a scholarship kid to work for them at school, then offered him a summer job he couldn’t refuse and got him dealing here in Devil’s Ditch.”
“Should I feel sorry for this kid?” Shep asked.
“No!” Colt, Cam, and I said at the same time.
“Unless Rod specifically names the Trout boys, or anyone else for that matter, this is all on him,” Colt said. “Even if he gives names, we’d need more proof than Rod’s word. I’m sure Rocky and Chase learned something from their father about keeping their hands clean and have kept this all on Rod. Just like Rod put it on you, Taylor.”
“How come the Trouts keep coming up dirty and always seem to get away with it?” Cam asked.
Colt took a deep breath, puffed up his chest, then let it out. “One of these days, we’ll get them. One of these days.”
21
CAM
Two weeks later,I came in the front door of the clinic to find Taylor behind the front desk. Nat, my usual receptionist, had gone into labor three weeks early and was now gone until the new year.
I couldn’t help but smile because my woman was here where I could see her every day. It took a few days for both of us to recover from Severs and his crow bar and I was only more protective now than ever. Knowing she was right here near me all day long soothed the beast in me.
“Hi. What did I miss?” I asked her, leaning over the high counter and kissing her. There weren’t anypatients and their owners in the waiting area to witness, but I didn’t care. I wanted everyone in town to know she was mine and that I wasn’t afraid to show it.
