Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown

“By who?”

“By the moonshiner who persuaded Lefty to squeeze you out of ten jugs per order.” She leaned forward and tapped her temple. “I put two and two together. One bullet was fired into Wally’s head for stealing that truckload of sugar and causing a shortage. The second bullet was payback for whippin’ up on that whore.”

Hiram picked up the Bible and brandished it. “He’s dead meat.”

Gert’s smiles were as infrequent as blood moons. She gave Hiram Johnson a smug one now. “Ain’t no he.”





Thirty-Nine



Irv scowled up at Laurel from his pillow. “Hutton dropped that on you, then just left?”

“Without another word.” Now part of their morning routine, she tied a knot to secure the fresh bandage around his chest. “There.”

“Does it have to be so tight?”

“Yes, because you work it loose as the day goes on. But the wound looks better today than yesterday, and it will continue to get better if you rest.”

“I’ve done nothing besides lie in bed.”

“And fret. Your mind needs rest, too. Stop worrying so much.”

“First you tell me that Ernie’s secret stash has been stolen, then that you took it upon yourself to go alone to Lefty’s, and lastly about this doomsday message from Hutton. Now you tell me to stop worrying?”

“Do you know Chester Landry?”

“How would I know a guy who sells ladies’ shoes?”

“Maybe more than shoes.”

“What’s he look like?”

She described him to the best of her recollection. “I only saw him that one time in the café, and I wasn’t really paying attention.” She’d been distracted by Thatcher.

Irv scratched his bristly chin. “I know the fella you’re talking about. I’ve seen him in town.”

“Where?”

“Here and there.”

“At Lefty’s?”

“No, and I think I would remember, considering those duds he wears.”

“If you haven’t seen him there, then it’s possible Mr. Hutton’s hunch about him is wrong.”

“Just as possible that he’s right, though, Laurel. Remember, I told you it was rumored that a bootlegger from Dallas was a big-time operator around here? Could be Landry’s him. Hutton must think so, or he wouldn’t’ve gone out of his way to tell you.”

“That wasn’t all he came to tell me. You’ll be glad to know that Sheriff Amos is letting you off the hook, this time, in the hope that you’ve learned your lesson.”

“And I hope you’ve learned yours.” He shook his finger at her. “Out at Lefty’s, you’re in danger of more than bootleggers. Don’t go there again.”

“I won’t.” When he looked sternly doubtful, she stressed that she wouldn’t. “I only went to seal your deal. The O’Connors will be making the deliveries.”

“Larger deliveries.”

“Which is what we were going for, Irv. Remember?”

“There’s nothing the matter with my memory. But our gain represents a loss to competitors. I’m all for increasing our business, but not if it means that one or all of us will meet with bodily harm.”

“I’ll be doubly discreet and careful.”

“Warn those twins not to be so damn cocky, but don’t tell them why. Keep it general.”

“You still don’t trust them.”

“Never have trusted men with dimples.”

She laughed. “What do you have against dimples?”

He went on as though she hadn’t interrupted. “Ernie and Corrine need to be put on watch, too.”

“Because of the theft, Ernie is already on alert.”

“How’d Ernie take to Corrine?”

She hedged. “She’ll grow on him.”

He barked a laugh. “Don’t count on it. He’s used to his own company and silence. God knows he’ll have precious little of that.”

Laurel smiled. “I have pies to bake today, but I’ll drive out and check on them tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll have several crates of whiskey ready for me.”

“Speaking of, I could do with a nip.”

“At bedtime.”

“I just woke up.”

“At bedtime.”

“I’m hurting now.”

“Part of the healing process.” She stood up and straightened the cover where she’d been sitting at the foot of his bed. He was idly scratching his chin again. “Your stubble is itching. Would you like a shave?”

“No.”

“I’m happy to do it.”

He waved off the offer. “I’m thinking, is all.”

“Something’s gnawing at you, Irv. What?”

“You say you introduced Hutton to the twins? How’d that go?”

“All right. After they shook hands, I sent the twins on their way.”

In giving Irv an account of last night’s visit from Thatcher, she had omitted certain details, one being the hostility that had crackled between him and the O’Connors. She also didn’t tell him that Thatcher had questioned her about the deliveries the twins made to Ranger, or that Sheriff Amos had pointed the O’Connors out to Thatcher while referring to them as wild. Nor did she mention that Thatcher had asked who supplied Irv’s moonshine.