Free Tales Of The Sazi 05 - Moon's Fury by C.t. Adams . Cathy Clamp

people gossip in a tiny town. I grew up in one, but apparently have become forgetful after living in a city so long.”
    He stood up and walked to the metal wire shelves next to the massive multi-burner stove, and started looking for something. He continued to talk with his back to them. "I own an interest in a number of properties in Boulder. Mostly, they're pack businesses, but not all of them. My wife and I have been talking about my retirement from my practice, since I've already been the pack leader up there too long as it is. People are starting to comment on how well I'm holding up to my insane litigation schedule. It wouldn't be a stretch to convince people I was thinking about moving to Texas …or at least, considering investing in potential future growth down here.”
    Adam could see where he was going with the idea. Investors can ask stupid questions and promise about anything. People are happy to spill their guts for the potential of financial gain. That was why so few people reported being scammed by professional con men, making his job more difficult. He found himself nodding while staring at Lucas's broad back and thought of something. "So, is that my cover, too? I don't know if I can pull off acting like an investor. It'd be too easy to find out I'm just barely making it on my salary. One call to my bank would have my loan officer rolling on the floor at the question. Plus, I haven't had anyone die in the family recently to fake a windfall.”
    Lucas turned around, holding a short stack of white foam containers with lids. He shook his head with a smile. "Nope. You're just going to be you …with a bit of a twist. Your story is you've gotten burned out, which isn't that unusual, considering your beat. I presume you already gave notice after Josef gave you your orders?”
    "Yeah, but I haven't said anything about being burned out to anyone. I just told Reggie—my partner—that I needed to find better money. He nearly offered to walk with me, but his wife is about to have twins. I'm single, with no kids, so I'm more flexible." He wasn't even sure why he said that last part, but it didn't hurt anything.
    The Wolven chief returned to the table, put down the stack of containers—causing an odd look from both Cloudsfall and Carlotta—and took his chair again. "No problem there, on either side of the question. You found some information on an offshoot of your family …pick something logical. An old bible in the attic or some such, with information about a black sheep that got disowned. It happened all the time in the last century…trust me. You drove to Texas to meet up with your buddy Will, taking along an old girlfriend and discovered—" He swept both arms outward and smiled with something approaching wonder. "— paradise! Texas is amazing! It's peaceful, the people are terrific, and the worst crime in town is the occasional cattle rustler. It's everything you've ever dreamed of, but just didn't know it. You are going to draw on every acting lesson you've had in your life this week, Agent. You're in love with Santa Helena and are going to tell every person you meet just that.”
    "Actually, that's not true at all." Cara's voice was matter of fact, sounding very much like a cop. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest, causing the badge on her pocket to flash sunlight in his eyes. "There's crime here—lots of it. Meth, both labs and users, is bad all over the county, we're the back door for illegal immigration heading north and I'm fighting a losing battle with keeping the San Antonio gangs from recruiting in the schools. It's not just picking up estrays and truants down here. I'm understaffed, underfunded, and overworked. I turned off my radio for the meeting, because my dispatcher knows she can call the restaurant to get me. But if I turned it on, you'd probably hear the same codes you're used to hearing back home—robberies, domestic violence, drug busts, and even the occasional