Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 614(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 614(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
She turned to stare out the passenger-side window. Her chest slowly expanded and contracted for a few seconds. “Okay, so… Why are you telling me all of this?”
“I need your help.”
She turned to face him again. “You or the task force?”
“The investigation. I went undercover with the Peckers as a way to get behind the scenes at The Peach Pit. Our suspicion—and I think you have the same—is that the Demons bought this business for two reasons. As a front to sell drugs and also to cook the books.”
She rubbed her forehead. “Cook the books?”
“Launder their drug money. They’re buying up local businesses that deal with a lot of cash.”
“And The Peach Pit handles a lot of cash,” she said flatly.
“Do you have access to the books?”
With a shake of her head, she answered, “No, Laura used an accountant and I’m not sure what the Demons are doing, if anything, when it comes to bookkeeping. If they’re cooking the books, like you say, I’m sure her accountant wouldn’t want to be involved.”
“I’m sure the Demons wouldn’t want him to see the books, either. Who makes the deposits?”
“Any cash is locked in the safe a few times a night and the remainder after closing. Previously, when I’d come in the next day, either Laura or I would prepare the deposit and one of us would take it to the bank.”
“Who handles it now?”
“Saint.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. “How are you getting paid?”
“Laura used a payroll service since they handled everything. Right now, my direct deposits are still coming from that company. But if I had to guess, the payroll is only being funded by the credit card deposits and not cash. I suspect they’re pocketing any cash coming into the club.”
“That could come back to bite them with the IRS if there’s any major discrepancy between the amounts of cash previously deposited and what’s being deposited now.”
“Taint could be depositing some, but I doubt he’s depositing it all.”
“Or he’s depositing cash from the meth sales. However, we don’t have confirmation about that yet and can only assume at this point. A strip club is a perfect front.”
“Isn’t money laundering a RICO violation?” she asked.
“Sure is.”
“That means the feds could seize the business, right?”
“Possibly, but we’re trying to avoid going after any of them until we have all our ducks in a row. We don’t want to tip them off—or the organization they’re trafficking for—before our investigation is complete. Right now we’re in the evidence gathering stage. The more solid proof we get, the stronger the case will be when indictments come down.”
“You said you need my help, but you haven’t said how.”
“Have you noticed them selling drugs?”
“I haven’t. But using the club as a front makes sense. It has to be why they fought so hard to get their hands on this business. They refused to take a no from Laura.” She clamped a hand onto her forehead and gave her head a little shake. “Truthfully, I’ve had my blinders on since they took over. I’ve only been biding my time and trying to avoid stirring up trouble and dealing with Taint’s wrath. I guess I should’ve paid better attention.”
“Moving forward, I need you to be very observant.”
“And then what?”
“And then you report back to me with the date, time and names of the actors involved when you see any suspicious activity. Give me whatever details you can. I need you to be my eyes and ears.” At least when he wasn’t at the club himself. He was about to reveal that part of the plan next.
“Basically, what you’re asking me to do is observe and let you know if I see anything,” she concluded.
“Yes,” he drew out slowly, “but that’s not all.”
Her head jerked back. “Don’t ask me to sell drugs for those assholes.”
He huffed out a breath, both amused and surprised she thought he’d ask that of her. “No, nothing like that. I’m not asking you to do anything illegal at all.”
“Then what?”
Here goes nothing… “I want to be your boyfriend,” tumbled out of his mouth.
Hers hung open for a few seconds. “What?”
“Your fake boyfriend,” he followed up quickly. “I want us to pretend we’re dating.”
Her eyebrows pinched together. “Why?”
“It gives me a good excuse to hang around the club and also have access to the back where the deals might be going down. If I just came in as a regular customer, I’d have no good reason to have full access to the club.”
She swallowed hard as she stared through the windshield and at the rear of the brick building. Once again, he decided it was best to wait her out and let her process this unexpected proposal.
It would make his life so much easier if she agreed. Could they continue to investigate the Demons without her help? Sure as fuck could. But her cooperation would be a boon since two sets of eyes were better than one and she knew The Peach Pit better than anyone.