Chapter 34

Trading Spaces

Danny and Regina were busy decorating the Christmas tree when the telephone rang. "Hello," Regina said. "Yes Sheriff, he's here."

Regina then handed the telephone to Danny. "Hello Sheriff. What can I do for you?"

"Danny," the sheriff replied, "I just got a telephone call from the FBI saying they arrested three men in Jacksonville, Florida this morning who might be the same three men who helped Junior Ripley beat you up, and I need you to come down to my office right away to look at their pictures for me."

"No problem, Sheriff."

"Good, Deputy Hart should be pulling in your driveway just about now. He'll give you and Regina a ride to my office."

"I could have drove."

"I know, but I want to make sure you get here because if these three men are the same ones who beat you up, then I need to keep a close eye on you. The FBI says these are some really bad men, and they don't work alone. See you in a few."

"What was that all about?" Regina asked.

"We got to go down to the Sheriff's office, right now."

"Both of us?"

"That's what he said. Deputy Hart is here to pick us up already."

"Danny," Regina asked, "what is going on?"

*****

"Do you think the sheriff has managed to put the pieces together?" Simon Gibson asked.

"No," Tommy Smith replied, "and even if he does, he's going to hang Junior long before he gets close to us."

"But the FBI caught John, and the others. What if they talk?"

"They're pros, they'll not talk to anyone."

"But what's going to stop Junior from talking?"

"Dead men can't talk," Tommy said.

"I never imagined it getting this far out of hand," Simon said. "I would have never believed it would come to this."

"Junior should have paid attention to his business, and not got so wrapped up in that Johnson guy's bullshit. All it did was cause him more trouble than it was worth. Now he's left me with no choice, but to burn him."

"And all the evidence with him," Simon said.

*****

"Are these the men?" Sheriff Pendergrass asked.

"Yes Sir," Danny said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Sir. It's hard to forget guys like that. Those are the three guys who helped Junior beat me up that day."

"Well," Sheriff Pendergrass said, "all I can say is you're lucky they didn't go ahead and kill you. These guys have left dead bodies all over the South."

"What is it they do, Sheriff?" Regina asked.

"Well Miss Regina," the sheriff replied, "these men sell cocaine, and other illegal narcotics on a large scale, and recruit legitimate business owners to help them launder the money, and when these business people get nervous, greedy, or caught by the law, they kill them so they can't talk about it. The FBI has been chasing them for years."

"Do you think they'll kill Junior, Sheriff?"

"I don't think they have any choice."

"But why do you think Danny and I are in danger?"

"Danny's testimony can tie them to your brother, and if they can be tied to your brother, they can be tied to his murder."

"Are you going to be able to protect Junior?" Danny asked.

"Junior's in jail. The FBI can move him all the way across the country if they have to, but my big concern is keeping the two of you safe, and I don't know how I can do that without a lot of help from the two of you."

"What do we need to do?" Regina asked.

"Well, to begin with, I think the two of you need to go stay at your daddy's house."

"You've got to be kidding?" Danny asked.

"No I'm not," replied Sheriff Pendergrass. "Regina's daddy has his own security personnel, and the house has acres, and acres of clear pasture all around it. That makes it real easy for the FBI and my deputies to watch it."

"I think I'd rather stay in jail," Danny said.

"You want me to put you in with Junior," the sheriff said. "Having all three of you in the same place would make my job a lot easier."

"No," Regina said, "I don't think we'll be staying in the jail. At least I won't be."

"I'll have Deputy Hart drive you home so you can pack some of your things," Sheriff Pendergrass said. "I think you'll have to be the one to make Danny feel at home at the Ripley mansion."

CARROT ON A STICK by Billy Jones
A Book About Everything, Well Almost Everything