the land around my grandparents’ house? They'll only buy if everyone agrees to sell. I'm the last holdout.”
Understanding dawned. The Lakota casino was set to open up next year in Council County. The tribe announced the casino would go near the Highway Five entrance to the reservation, but it hadn’t been finalized yet.
“You know, a lotof folks don’t believe the casino will go where the tribe announced. According to town gossip, plenty of people were gambling millions on land that may or may not lead to the new casino.” He strode to her side. “Whoever guesses right stands to make a fortune. Hotels, restaurants and other auxiliary businesses would pay top dollar to locate near the casino.”
With that kind of money at stake, Bethwas playing a dangerous game without backup.
Hank wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her closer. “So that explains why you've been getting threats. Has anyone threatened you to your face?”
She snorted into his shoulder. “Mrs. Cranston said she'd always known you couldn't trust a Mexican to do the right thing.”
“Mrs. Cranston is an ignorant old bag who'd better hope she doesn't getcaught speeding in Dry Creek County.”
Chuckling darkly, Beth pushed away from him. “Thanks.” She stood and started pacing, her bare feet leaving indentions in the plush carpet. “I've gotten some nasty anonymous phone calls and texts. Someone vandalized the house.”
He jumped up from the bed and grabbed her elbow, forcing her to stop pacing. “What?”
She kept her face averted. “Yeah, the day mycar conked out for the billionth time, but nothing too bad. Some broken windows and spray-painted walls.”
Anger burbled inside of him, making his gut clench. “Why didn't you tell me when I gave you a ride home?”
“The house is just over the border in Council County. I reported it to Sheriff Wilcox. He said it was probably just kids partying in an abandoned house.”
He just bet the lazy, corruptson of a bitch did think that. “So what's he going to do about it?”
“Nothing. Oh, he says he’ll look into the threats, but nothing ever happens.” She wrapped around her chest, her hands rubbing her upper arms. “He suggested I sell.”
“There must be a stream of stupid flowing into Council County's water supply.”
“Yeah, now you understand why I live in Dry Creek.” She smiled wanly at her tepidjoke.
“Not that I want you to sell, but why haven't you?”
“My grandfather built that house. He'd work a twelve-hour shift in the slaughterhouse and then turn around and spend his off hours building the house. It took him ten years to complete it. Sure, it's an ugly house, but it's my only tie to my family. It's all I have left of them.” A single tear slid over one high cheekbone, but fire burnedin her gaze. “I won't sell. Ever.”
Now family, that he could understand.
“Okay. So tell me about last night.” He wanted to pull her into his arms, but she looked as skittish as a calf on branding day.
“I went to dinner with other conference speakers and attendees. We had reservations for a table at one of the hotel clubs, so we went there. I had a glass of pop at dinner, a champagne at theclub, and then everything went fuzzy.”
“Anyone from home with you?”
“At the dinner, most everyone was from the firm. At the club there were several people from home. A few were already at the club when we got there.” She clutched a fist to her stomach. “Could the drug still be in my system?”
He was going to enjoy the feel of his fist crushing the jaw of whoever did this. “It's unlikely. Yoursymptoms sound like it was GHB or Rohypnol, and both tend not to leave trace evidence behind.”
She sank down to the chaise lounge, her normal latte complexion ashen. “Great. So there's no way to prove it.”
Hank shook his head. “Not likely.” The fact that he was impotent to do more than offer advice rankled him.
Beth threw up her hands, stormed over to her
Understanding dawned. The Lakota casino was set to open up next year in Council County. The tribe announced the casino would go near the Highway Five entrance to the reservation, but it hadn’t been finalized yet.
“You know, a lotof folks don’t believe the casino will go where the tribe announced. According to town gossip, plenty of people were gambling millions on land that may or may not lead to the new casino.” He strode to her side. “Whoever guesses right stands to make a fortune. Hotels, restaurants and other auxiliary businesses would pay top dollar to locate near the casino.”
With that kind of money at stake, Bethwas playing a dangerous game without backup.
Hank wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her closer. “So that explains why you've been getting threats. Has anyone threatened you to your face?”
She snorted into his shoulder. “Mrs. Cranston said she'd always known you couldn't trust a Mexican to do the right thing.”
“Mrs. Cranston is an ignorant old bag who'd better hope she doesn't getcaught speeding in Dry Creek County.”
Chuckling darkly, Beth pushed away from him. “Thanks.” She stood and started pacing, her bare feet leaving indentions in the plush carpet. “I've gotten some nasty anonymous phone calls and texts. Someone vandalized the house.”
He jumped up from the bed and grabbed her elbow, forcing her to stop pacing. “What?”
She kept her face averted. “Yeah, the day mycar conked out for the billionth time, but nothing too bad. Some broken windows and spray-painted walls.”
Anger burbled inside of him, making his gut clench. “Why didn't you tell me when I gave you a ride home?”
“The house is just over the border in Council County. I reported it to Sheriff Wilcox. He said it was probably just kids partying in an abandoned house.”
He just bet the lazy, corruptson of a bitch did think that. “So what's he going to do about it?”
“Nothing. Oh, he says he’ll look into the threats, but nothing ever happens.” She wrapped around her chest, her hands rubbing her upper arms. “He suggested I sell.”
“There must be a stream of stupid flowing into Council County's water supply.”
“Yeah, now you understand why I live in Dry Creek.” She smiled wanly at her tepidjoke.
“Not that I want you to sell, but why haven't you?”
“My grandfather built that house. He'd work a twelve-hour shift in the slaughterhouse and then turn around and spend his off hours building the house. It took him ten years to complete it. Sure, it's an ugly house, but it's my only tie to my family. It's all I have left of them.” A single tear slid over one high cheekbone, but fire burnedin her gaze. “I won't sell. Ever.”
Now family, that he could understand.
“Okay. So tell me about last night.” He wanted to pull her into his arms, but she looked as skittish as a calf on branding day.
“I went to dinner with other conference speakers and attendees. We had reservations for a table at one of the hotel clubs, so we went there. I had a glass of pop at dinner, a champagne at theclub, and then everything went fuzzy.”
“Anyone from home with you?”
“At the dinner, most everyone was from the firm. At the club there were several people from home. A few were already at the club when we got there.” She clutched a fist to her stomach. “Could the drug still be in my system?”
He was going to enjoy the feel of his fist crushing the jaw of whoever did this. “It's unlikely. Yoursymptoms sound like it was GHB or Rohypnol, and both tend not to leave trace evidence behind.”
She sank down to the chaise lounge, her normal latte complexion ashen. “Great. So there's no way to prove it.”
Hank shook his head. “Not likely.” The fact that he was impotent to do more than offer advice rankled him.
Beth threw up her hands, stormed over to her
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