Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest) - By Carly Phillips Page 0,83

gotten that way by keeping secrets. Damn, but he’d underestimated her too.

Simon stood at the head of the room, facing his kids. “The rumors you all heard were true. The Winkler place rented out rooms by the hour. They had girls that were imported from Manhattan for the use of whatever locals were willing to pay. And the Winkler boys, as they were known, only took cash. That cash came from both prostitution and drugs, since the boys worked for a syndicate that operated out of Manhattan.”

Mike glanced at Sam. They sat in silence, waiting for the rest.

“Plenty of people wanted the brothel shut down, myself included, but there were too many men in high positions involved.”

“Like Judge Baine,” Mike said, understanding how high and deep this small-town scandal went.

Simon nodded. “Like Marshall. And old Mayor Ferber. Of course, periodically, people would make a ruckus and mothers would petition and the place would go dark for a while, only to open up again when things quieted down.”

“How was Rex involved?” Mike asked.

Simon gave Mike an understanding nod. “As I found out later, he was on the take. With the old police chief involved, Rex became the rookie who was sent out on call every time a complaint came in. He made sure evidence got buried, things stayed quiet, and he was paid well for his trouble. Same as Judge Baine.”

“What happened to mess it all up?” Sam leaned forward in his seat.

“What always happens. Stupid shit trips people up. The feds were on to the syndicate in New York. They had marked money in play to find out what businesses they were using to launder drug money. The feds had a highly placed guy in the cartel by that point, and he made sure the marked bills made it into circulation in each business. Including the Winklers. Then one day, there were picketers at the motel. Things got ugly and the cops were called in—except Rex was out on a routine call and he couldn’t get over there first to hide or ignore evidence. I found more cash than a motel should have and it was all marked.”

Mike listened as all the pieces fell into place.

“Everyone must’ve known it was only a matter of time before the cops tied the Winkler place to the drug guys in the city.” Simon shoved his hands into the front pockets of his sweats. “Before that could happen, Judge Baine let the guy out on bail.”

“Then?” Erin asked, as interested as the rest of them.

“A few weeks later, one of the drug couriers from Manhattan was pulled over for speeding in Serendipity. The cops found a load of drugs in the car and money he was transporting back to the city. The bills were marked just like the ones found at the Winkler bust,” Simon went on. “The feds were notified about the drugs and the additional marked money. But around the same time, they’d taken key syndicate members around Manhattan. Nobody needed the little fish who’d been arrested in Serendipity, and the case went cold.”

“Which helped make it all go away quietly, letting everyone here in town off the hook.” Sam let out a low whistle.

Simon nodded. “With the cartel finished in Manhattan, the source of the girls and drugs dried up here in Serendipity—and wherever else they were running illegal brothels. The Winkler place became town lore, and that was that.”

Mike cleared his throat. “What about the cash in the evidence room? The money replaced with older bills?” He tensed, sensing this was where Rex and Simon’s involvement came in.

Cara placed a hand on his back, and he was never more grateful for the support than at this moment. Hell, whatever came, he felt stronger facing it with her by his side.

“Rex had a gambling habit too.” Simon ran a hand through his thinning hair. “He stole the money from the evidence room. I didn’t catch him in the act, but I figured it out and he didn’t deny it when I confronted him.” He paced the length of the small room. “Of course, he expected me to keep it quiet.”

Mike and his siblings remained silent, waiting for him to tell the story his way.

“By then, your mother was pregnant with you and Rex was panicked in every way you can imagine. He couldn’t deal, he wasn’t making your mother any promises, and I saw only one solution for everyone involved.”

Ella, who had been sitting on the couch, rose and stood by