Lucas pulled into a parking space in front of the sheriff’s office the next morning. He’d decided to check in with Rafe, and ask him a few pointed questions about the possibility of illegal gambling in Shiloh Springs or any of the surrounding towns. Something about this story needed to be told, though he hadn’t found the right angle yet. He needed a hook, something to make people care about the importance of closing these places down. A true perspective on the people who ran the illegal gambling halls, most with connections to organized crime or the big drug syndicates, and how they preyed on the less fortunate.
Sally Anne sat at her desk by the front door, the phone to her ear. She waved at him as he walked past, and pointed toward the back. Giving her a wink, he headed down the hall toward Rafe’s office. His brother sat behind his desk, frowning at a piece of paper. Whatever it was, he wasn’t a happy camper.
“Hey, big brother, what’s got your britches in a bunch?”
“Huh…what?”
“You’re scowling at that paper like you want to light it on fire. Problems?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Rafe pulled open the middle drawer of his desk, and shoved the page inside, slamming it closed with a little more force than necessary.
Yeah, right. Guess I’m gonna stick my nose in big brother’s business. See if it’s something I can help with, before I head back to DFW.
“What brings you by?”
Lucas sat on the chair across from Rafe, and tossed his hat onto the one beside him. He rarely wore his Stetson in the city, but there was something about being home which made it feel right, in a way that tugged at his soul. Made him a little homesick every time he left it behind.
“Wanted to pick your brain, if you’ve got a few minutes.”
“Sure. Want some coffee before you start?”
“No, thanks, I’m good. Had a couple cups before I left the Big House.”
“Momma’s taking good care of you, I bet. She’d like nothing better than for you to move back to Shiloh Springs. I heard her talking to Daddy the other night about wanting all her boys back home. Bet she’ll be subtle about it, but she’s surely coming up with a plan to make it happen, so watch your back.”
Lucas chuckled at his brother’s warning. “Duly noted. She mentioned Heath came home for a bit. He didn’t mention it when I called him.”
Rafe grinned like he hid a huge secret. “He showed up out of the blue around the time Beth’s ex escaped from prison. Evan Stewart’s sister was visiting Beth at the time, and Heath took one look at Camilla Stewart, and you’d think he’d been hit with a sledgehammer.”
“You’re kidding. Heath Boudreau, the man who swore he wasn’t going to ever get married? The man who thinks women—other than Momma, of course—are lying, duplicitous schemers, finally met his match? She must be something special.”
“Picture a woman the exact opposite of Heath. He’s huge, works a demanding job with the ATF, rides a Harley, and doesn’t have a suave or sophisticated bone in his body. He’s more beers, bikes, and heavy metal. I’m still shocked he isn’t covered in tattoos. Camilla is all polished charm and elegance. One of those never-a-hair-out-of-place women who’d pick ballet over baseball. When those two clashed, it was a sight to see. We’re talking Fourth of July fireworks.”
“Sorry I missed it.”
“All water under the bridge now. Probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. He works in D.C. and she lives in Charlotte. Doubt they’ll ever cross paths again.” Rafe grabbed his coffee mug and took a long swallow. “Anyway, what can I help you with?”
“I’m looking for information for my next story. I’ve got the basic info, facts and figures, but I want the dirt. The ugly, dark side of illegal gambling in Texas. Who it affects, what kind of toll it takes on the family when a loved one goes too far, and ends up over their head in debt.”
“Thinking about exposing the seedy underbelly, showing people one of the dirty little secrets folks ignore, huh? Texas is one of the strictest states with regards to illegal gambling. They’ve cracked down in the last couple of years, especially around Houston and South Texas. The area around Victoria got hit pretty hard. They’d close down one gaming club and two more would pop up in their place.”
Lucas nodded. “I read about that while doing my research. It’s not considered an epidemic yet, but more and more of these places are popping up all over the country. If something isn’t done to bring the truth to the forefront, there’ll be no stopping it. Hundreds of thousands of dollars pass through these gaming clubs daily, most of it coming from people who can’t afford to take the hit. We’re talking a multimillion-dollar illegal industry, and it’s still classified as a misdemeanor offense.” Lucas could feel the bottled-up rage in the pit of his stomach, thinking about all the poor unfortunate souls who’d been sucked in with the allure of easy money. Prey for the cartels and Mafia, it made his blood boil.
“Which is why they get away with it most of the time. It’s a slap on the wrist, maybe probation, or if there’s jail time, it’s minimal. Usually it’s a five hundred dollar fine.”
Lucas leaned back, watching Rafe closely, and could see the lines of frustration bracketing his mouth. Guess he wasn’t the only one worried about the growing need to eradicate this blight. He also noted the dark circles beneath his brother’s eyes.
“You look tired. Everything okay?”
Rafe drew in a long breath, and let it out slowly. “Yeah. The wedding’s been a pain. Don’t you dare tell Tessa I said that. Most of the time it’s fine, and all this planning, looking at dresses and flowers, makes her happy. Momma, too. Personally, I’d have been thrilled to stand up in front of a justice of the peace, but she deserves to have the whole shebang.”
“It’s more than the wedding, though. Talk to me. What’s going on?”
“Really, it’s—”
“If you say nothing, I’m coming around this desk and punching you. You know I can read you like a book. Now spill.”
Instead of answering, Rafe opened the drawer and pulled out the paper he’d shoved in there earlier, and handed it to Lucas. It was a letter, and as he scanned its contents, the madder he got, until his hands shook.
“Is this a joke?” He bit the words out, jaws tight.
“Afraid not. There’s a petition being circulated through the county to recall me as sheriff, and hold a special election for my replacement.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Nobody in their right mind could think you’ve done anything wrong, much less egregious enough to call for your removal from office. What are their allegations?”
“Bro, it’s a petition, they don’t have to state a specific reason. All they have to do is collect enough signatures, and present it to the right people and call for my ouster as sheriff.”
“What a load of—”
“Yeah, well, you’re gonna keep your mouth shut, you hear me? Nobody, and I mean nobody, hears about this. Especially the family. I do not want Tessa or Momma getting wind of this. I’ll handle it.”
Lucas stood and paced the small space in Rafe’s crowded office. Six steps, turn, six more steps, turn. He was surprised steam wasn’t pouring from his ears. Nobody with half a brain could think Rafe wasn’t doing a good job running the sheriff’s department. He was the best sheriff Shiloh Springs had seen in twenty years or more. No way was he going to let this stand, not without a fight.
“Any idea who’s behind this?”
“Not a clue. Doesn’t matter. If people don’t like the way I’m running this office, they’ve got the right to kick me out and elect somebody else.”
Each word landed like a blow to his heart, and Lucas felt every one with the ferocity of a physical punch. He knew how much being sheriff meant to his brother. From the time he’d joined the Boudreau clan, he remembered hearing about Rafe. About the accident that claimed his mother’s life, leaving him virtually alone in a strange town with nobody. Not until Douglas, working as a volunteer fireman, stepped up and claimed Rafe as his own son. From that day forward, Rafe’s goal focused on becoming an integral piece of Shiloh Springs. Part of the community who’d welcomed him. To give back in a tangible way, and help others the way he’d been helped. Now some idiot with a piece of paper and a grudge thought they could take it all away from him?
Not in this lifetime!
“I’m gonna find out who’s doing this, and they’re going to wish they’d never messed with a Boudreau brother.”
Lucas started for the door, but Rafe was around his desk and blocking the entryway before he’d taken more than a couple steps.
“You’re not doing anything. I mean it, Lucas. You’re going to keep your mouth shut and let me handle things. This is my problem, and I’ll deal with it. Don’t make me regret telling you.”
Lucas turned and flung himself onto the chair. “I don’t like it. And I’ve got a pretty good idea who’s behind it. You do, too. Don’t tell me it didn’t cross your mind the minute you heard about the petition.”
Rafe leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest. “Of course I thought it. Richard and Julie Calloway have been a thorn in my side since the day I took the oath of office.”
“Do they really think messing with the Boudreaus is gonna make Ridge and Shiloh come running back to them with open arms? The Calloway’s destroyed any chance of reconciling when they disowned our brothers’ biological mother, and tossed her out when she was pregnant. Didn’t want anything to do with their grandsons when they moved back here as kids. Now they expect Shiloh and Ridge to simply welcome them with open arms? They’re both idiots.”
“But they are within their rights as citizens.”
Lucas simply stared at Rafe, reading the quiet determination in his face. His brother was hurting, because like it or not, this petty attempt by the Calloway’s was a slap at his pride. An undeserved condemnation of one of the finest men Lucas knew.
“I won’t say anything to the family, but I can’t promise I won’t try and figure out what they hope to gain from this stupidity.”
Rafe sighed and straightened, walking around to his chair behind the desk. “I know. And I’ll get some numbers for you, for your research. Let me know what you need, and I’ll pass it along.”
“Thanks. Call me if you need anything.”
“Get out of here. Go see Jill, I know you want to.”
Lucas chuckled at his brother making kissy noises. “Bro, that’s not a good look on you. Save it for Tessa.”
“Yeah, well, tell me you’re not heading over to see Jill the minute you leave here, I dare you.”
Lucas started whistling and headed toward the front door, his brother’s laughter echoing behind him.