CHAPTER 16 #3
“We’d been sitting on all this cash. More than we could spend without sending up red flags.
I don’t have that problem now with the restaurant to funnel it through.
But he’d sneak it out of the safe.” She sighed.
“The safe in my house, mind you. Without my knowing until afterwards.” Again, Geoff had been dead three years now, and she acted as if this had occurred yesterday.
The wound seemed still fresh for her. “The pastor is as straight-laced as they come, but Geoff wanted to become a deacon and get a key to the place.” She shook her head, trying to appease her anger.
“I still can’t believe all that money was wasted.
And for nothing.” She sighed. “I’ve wised up since then,” she said confidently.
Mac considered the info. “I didn’t realize you were making so much.
” When Geoff had given Mac a thousand here and a thousand there to support him, he’d felt out of sorts since he wouldn’t be able to pay him back.
But then the prospect of splitting the coins transpired, and he had hope of being Geoff’s equal, financially speaking.
Mac was outraged to discover Geoff had been rolling in cash. Geoff could have given him more. Much more.
Sam’s eyes lit up. “This is why I need you for the fireworks superstore. We’ll be able to wash even more money through it. With your firefighter training credentials, you’ll be able to get the permits in no time.”
“I still don’t understand how a fireworks store is going to wash that much cash.”
Sam sighed, “You buy fireworks from China,” she used air quotes, “at least that’s what the phony invoices will say.
There’s no way the IRS can even check and see if these Chinese companies are legit or not.
” She bobbed her head from side to side.
“Bada Bing, Bada Boom! It’s not that hard to wash money. You just have to have the resources.”
Mac realized, that’s all he was to her. A resource.
“I need to build a better lab for those kids from Alta Vista too. They cook after hours here at the restaurant,” she motioned to the building, “but they need more space, and it’s not ideal to shit where you eat.”
“Wait a minute.” Mac couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “The same young men whose trailer caught on fire?”
“Calm down, Fire Marshall Bill. They have the kitchen’s hood ventilation system here.”
“Meth? They’re cooking meth! Here? Are you kidding me?”
“Not while we’re open and making food, dumbass.
” She shook her head. “They’re here after hours.
” She took a breath. “Listen, it’s only a matter of time before pot’s legal in this state, and then we’ll turn the fireworks superstore into a dispensary.
We’ll go legit. It’s a solid growth plan for the business. ” The chick had balls.
“I thought this was only a pot operation, but meth too?” Mac groaned.
“Calm down. Geoff was the one who scouted and found these guys. They’re really talented in a lab.
But they’re not allowed side work anymore.
They got busted a month ago on Old 40 Highway with three duffel bags of weed in their truck.
” Sam sighed, “They were supposed to go straight to the Salina for a simple drop. I thought since they avoided I-70 and stayed on the old two-lane highway, they’d be okay.
But the shitheads got pulled over going twenty over. ”
Bored with this conversation, Mac asked, “What happened to Geoff’s cut when he died?” Things were adding up in his mind.
“Oh no,” Sam clicked her tongue, “I was the sole heir to his portion. This is my business, fucktard. I told you, you’d get twenty-five percent of what‘s washed through the new store. Once the permits go through with your name on them, we’ll be in business.
All your debts, house, truck, credit cards, everything will be taken care of.
” She pointed her finger at him. “But you’re not coming in and filling Geoff’s shoes or his dick hole, so don’t get any ideas.
I’ve taken this business far beyond where it started. ”
Mac raised his hands. “I get it. But I need money now.”
“You’re preaching to the choir. I need money to build the store and expand production.
This is a growth year for sure,” she said as if she were the CEO of a multi-million-dollar corporation.
“That’s why I had those lab rats making runs.
I’m short-staffed. That was a big hit losing that product too. ”
“Can’t you swing some money my way?” He pleaded. “I’ve already agreed to have my certifications on the paperwork, applications, whatever,” he motioned.
“You’re like a dog with a bone. But your bone is those coins. We'd better find them soon too, or we’ll both be up a creek without a paddle.”
“We’re not the only ones looking for ‘em,” Mac said under his breath.
“What do you mean? Who else have you told?”
He didn’t appreciate Sam’s accusing tone.
“No one. I’ve told no one else! But the professor’s daughter or niece,” he rolled his eyes, “I can’t remember which.
She’s looking for them. They were her inheritance.
She came by the station asking me questions about Geoff.
It sounded as if she thinks Geoff took them by her questions. ”
Sam was silent, looking straight through the windshield.
“I don’t know what to do. That’s why I came to you, hoping you had the coins or knew where they were,” Mac admitted.
“We’ll find them,” Sam said, sharply. “I’ll figure it out.”