Church said finally.
That was a no-brainer. He definitely wanted to. He just didn’t know if he should. Especially now. However, the thought of being with someone who might understand him on a level most people couldn’t was tempting.
“Tell me again, why do we give a shit what she thinks?” Smoke asked, oblivious to Cage’s inner struggle.
“We don’t,” Church assured him. “However, the woman is here to get a story, and if she doesn’t get one from us, she’s going to get one somewhere else. I think we can all agree that there are some who would be willing to offer their input—input that wouldn’t be particularly flattering to us and what we’re doing here.”
Church was referring to the Sumneyville chief of police and his ilk as well as the townspeople who either supported Freed or were afraid to publicly contradict him. Thankfully, most of the citizens in Sumneyville didn’t seem to have a problem with them, but it only took one or two malcontents to cause trouble.
“The Sentinel Voice is a national publication with lots of followers,” Doc added, picking up the thread. “And while De Rossi’s article might not have direct bearing on what we’re doing here, we don’t need the unwanted attention that comes with negative publicity.”
Mad Dog nodded thoughtfully. “If she puts us in a good light, people will read it, nod in approval, and move on. But throw in hints of drama and local opposition, and people will want to know more. That means, more spotlights, more reporters.”
Smoke snorted. “The locals have more to lose by drawing national attention than we do. They’re stockpiling weapons and preparing for doomsday, for God’s sake.”
“That might not be as much of an issue as you think,” Heff said, more serious now. “People don’t want to accept that the men they put in charge might not deserve to be there. It’s a hell of a lot easier to point fingers of blame at us and say that we’re the real threat.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” Smoke told him.
“Of course it is. But you know as well as I do that bullies like Freed thrive by instilling fear and doubt. Bonus: turning the spotlight on us is a way to divert attention from their real agenda, which, I might point out, we still don’t know.”
Several pairs of eyes turned toward Church. If anyone knew the real reason why some local leaders had it out for them, it was Church, and he still wasn’t talking. They trusted him implicitly and without question, but it would be nice to know exactly what they were up against.
Seconds ticked by in heavy silence before Mad Dog cleared his throat and spoke up, “Hopefully, we’ll know more about their agenda once we get samples of those weapons to the Callaghans for tracing.”
“Doc and Mad Dog are heading down later tonight,” Church said. He turned to look at Cage. “You and Smoke are on surveillance.”
That worked for him. “Good. The sooner we can figure out what they’re up to, the better it will be for everyone.”
Chapter Fifteen
Bree
Bree worked well past midnight, researching the Winston estate. It was indeed a tragic story.
The family-owned resort had been closed for repairs and renovations. An explosion occurred in the kitchen in the middle of the night, and the resulting fire killed the family and one of the employees who’d happened to be in the main building at the time. The only surviving member of the Winston clan was the eldest son, Matthew, who had joined the Navy shortly after graduating high school and was away at training.
There was much speculation about the cause of the blaze, particularly since the place had just undergone an inspection, which had found everything in good, working order. An investigation was launched, led by the newly named fire chief, Jerome “Jerry” Petraski, and Chief of Police Daryl Freed. Within days of the incident, Petraski had cited a faulty gas line in the resort kitchen as a probable cause, and the matter had been closed.
Bree scribbled into her notebook, adding to her list of follow-up items. Obtain arson investigation case files.
Bree stared at the images of a much-younger Matt Winston attending the funerals of his mother, his father, and his younger sister, feeling a stab of sympathy. His expression was stoic, but his eyes were haunted. Haunted and ... angry. She knew what it was like to lose someone you cared for in a swift, cruel twist of fate, just as she knew the ramifications of